Ill 


Hit    HI 


COLON 


I 


1,11 


COLONEL  HENRY  LUDINGTON 


H  flDemoir 


BY 


WILLIS  FLETCHER  JOHNSON 

A.M.,  L.H.D. 


WITH  PORTRAITS,  VIEWS, 
FACSIMILES,  ETC. 


PRINTED  BY  HIS  GRANDCHILDREN 

LAVINIA  ELIZABETH  LUDINGTON  AND 

CHARLES  HENRY  LUDINGTON 

NEW  YORK 

1907 


<; 
v 


Copyright,  1907,  by 

LAVINIA  ELIZABETH  LTJDINGTON  AND 

CHARLES  HENRY  LUDINGTON 


/ 


f! 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

PREFACE 


PAGE 


I  GENEALOGICAL        ..............  3 

II  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION      .........  24 

III  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REVOLUTION        ...  47 

IV  THE  REVOLUTION       .............  77 

V  SECRET  SERVICE     ..............  114 

VI  BETWEEN  THE  LINES        ...........  133 

VII  AFTER  THE  WAR         .............  191 

VIII  SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS    .........  215 

INDEX                                              ..........  230 


435950 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Grist  mill  at  Fredericksburgh,  now  Kent  (Ludingtonville  post- 
office),  built  by  Col.  Henry  Ludington  about  the  time  of  the 
Revolution Frontispiece 

Old  gun  used  by  Henry  Ludington  in  the  French  and  Indian  War       29 

FACING   PAGE 

Henry  Ludington's  commission,  from  Governor  Tryon,  as  captain 
in  Col.  Beverly  Robinson's  regiment 30 

Old  Phillipse  Manor  House  at  Carmel,  N.  Y.,  in  1846 36 

View  of  Carmel,  N.  Y 38 

Map  of  Quaker  Hill  and  vicinity,  1778-80,  showing  location  of 
Colonel  Ludington's  place  at  Fredericksburgh 50 

Letter  from  Committee  on  Conspiracies  to  Colonel  Ludington  .    .      56 

Order  of  arrest  from  Committee  on  Conspiracies  to  Colonel  Lud 
ington  58 

Maps  of  Phillipse  patent,  showing  original  divisions  and  territory 
covered  by  Colonel  Ludington's  regiment 60 

Henry  Ludington's  commission  as  colonel  from  Provincial  Con 
gress,  1776 70 

Henry  Ludington's  commission  as  colonel  from  State  of  New 
York,  1778 72 

Letter  from  Abraham  B.  Bancker  to  Colonel  Ludington  about 
militia 74 

View  of  highroad  and  plains  from  site  of  Colonel  Ludington's 
house 90 

Facsimile  of  Colonel  Ludington's  signature 102 

Letter  from  Col.  Nathaniel  Sackett  to  Colonel  Ludington  on  secret 
service 114 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING   PAGE 

Home  of  the  late  George  Ludington  on  site  of  Colonel  Luding- 
ton's  house 132 

Home  of  the  late  Frederick  Ludington,  son  of  Colonel  Ludington, 
at  Kent 134 

Mahoga'ny  table  used  by  Colonel  Ludington,  at  which,  according  to 
family  tradition,  Washington  and  Rochambeau  dined    ....     165 

Letter  from  Governor  Clinton  to  Colonel  Ludington  about  militia     170 
Pay  certificate  of  a  member  of  Colonel  Ludington's  regiment  .    .     188 

Colonel  Ludington's   tombstone    at    Patterson,    formerly   part    of 
Fredericksburgh,  N.  Y 208 

Portrait  of  Frederick  Ludington,  son  of  Colonel  Ludington     .    .    216 
Portrait  of  Gov.  Harrison  Ludington,  grandson  of  Col.  Ludington    218 

Old  store  at  Kent,  built  by  Frederick  and  Lewis  Ludington  about 
1808 220 

Home  of  the  late  Lewis  Ludington,  son  of  Colonel  Ludington,  at 
Carmel 222 

Portrait  of  Lewis  Ludington,  son  of  Colonel  Ludington   ....     224 

Portrait  of  Charles  Henry  Ludington,  grandson  of  Colonel  Lud 
ington  226 


PREFACE 

THE  part  performed  by  the  militia  and  militia  offi 
cers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  does  not  seem  al 
ways  to  have  received  the  historical  recognition  which 
it  deserves.  It  was  really  of  great  importance,  espe 
cially  in  southern  New  England  and  the  Middle 
States,  at  times  actually  rivaling  and  often  indis 
pensably  supplementing  that  of  the  regular  Conti 
nental  Army.  It  will  not  be  invidious  to  say  that  of 
all  the  militia  none  was  of  more  importance  or  ren 
dered  more  valuable  services  than  those  regiments 
which  occupied  the  disputed  border  country  between 
the  American  and  British  lines,  and  which  guarded 
the  bases  of  supplies  and  the  routes  of  communica 
tion.  There  was  probably  no  region  in  which  border 
land  friction  was  more  severe  and  intrigues  more 
sinister  than  that  which  lay  between  the  British  in 
New  York  City  and  the  Americans  at  the  High 
lands  of  the  Hudson,  nor  was  there  a  highway  of 
travel  and  communication  more  important  than  that 
which  led  from  Hartford  in  Connecticut  to  Fishkill 
and  West  Point  in  New  York. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  present  volume  to  present 
the  salient  features  of  the  public  career  of  a  militia 
colonel  who  was  perhaps  most  of  all  concerned  in 
holding  that  troublous  territory  for  the  American 


PREFACE 

cause,  in  guarding  that  route  of  travel  and  supply, 
and  in  serving  the  government  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  to  whose  seat  his  territorial  command  was  so 
immediately  adjacent.  It  is  intended  to  be  merely  a 
memoir  of  Henry  Ludington,  together  with  such  a 
historical  setting  as  may  seem  desirable  for  a  just 
understanding  of  the  circumstances  of  his  life  and  its 
varied  activities.  It  makes  no  pretense  of  giving  a 
complete  genealogy  of  the  Ludington  family  in 
America,  either  before  or  after  his  time,  but  con 
fines  itself  to  his  own  direct  descent  and  a  few  of  his 
immediate  descendants.  The  facts  of  his  life,  never 
before  compiled,  have  been  gleaned  from  many 
sources,  including  Colonial,  Revolutionary  and 
State  records,  newspaper  files,  histories  and  diaries, 
correspondence,  various  miscellaneous  manuscript 
collections,  and  some  oral  traditions  of  whose  authen 
ticity  there  is  substantial  evidence.  The  most  copious 
and  important  data  have  been  secured  from  the 
manuscript  collections  of  two  of  Henry  Ludington's 
descendants,  Mr.  Lewis  S.  Patrick,  of  Marinette, 
Wisconsin,  who  has  devoted  much  time  and  pains 
taking  labor  to  the  work  of  searching  for  and  secur 
ing  authentic  information  of  his  distinguished  an 
cestor,  and  Mr.  Charles  Henry  Ludington,  of  New 
York,  who  has  received  many  valuable  papers  and 
original  documents  and  records  from  a  descendant 
of  Sibyl  Ludington  Ogden,  Henry  Ludington's 
first-born  child.  It  is  much  regretted  that  among 
all  these  data,  no  portrait  of  Henry  Ludington 

viii 


PREFACE 

is  in  existence,  and  that  therefore  none  can 
be  given  in  this  book.  In  addition,  the  old 
records  of  Charlestown  and  Maiden,  Massachu 
setts,  and  of  Branford,  East  Haven  and  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  the  collections  of  the  Connec 
ticut  Historical  Society,  the  early  annals  of  New 
York,  especially  in  the  French  and  Indian  and  the 
Revolutionary  wars,  and  the  publications  of  the  New 
England  Genealogical  Society,  have  also  been  util 
ized,  together  with  the  Papers  of  Governor  George 
Clinton,  Lossing's  "Field  Book  of  the  Revolution," 
Blake's  and  Pelletreau's  histories  of  Putnam  County, 
Smith's  "History  of  Dutchess  County,"  Bolton's 
"History  of  Westchester  County,"  and  other  works, 
credit  to  which  is  given  in  the  text  of  this  volume.  It 
is  hoped  that  this  brief  and  simple  setting  forth  of 
the  public  services  of  Henry  Ludington  during  the 
formative  period  of  our  country's  history  will  prove 
of  sufficient  interest  to  the  members  of  his  family  and 
to  others  to  justify  the  printing  of  this  memoir. 


ix 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 
H  /toemoir 


CHAPTER  I 

GENEALOGICAL 

THIS  family  of  the  Ludingtons,"  says  Gray  in 
his  genealogical  work  on  the  nobility  and 
gentry  of  England,  "were  of  a  great  estate,  of  whom 
there  was  one  took  a  large  travail  to  the  seeing  of 
many  countries  where  Our  Saviour  wrought  His 
miracles,  as  is  declared  by  his  monument  in  the  Col 
lege  of  Worcester,  where  he  is  interred."  The  im 
mediate  reference  of  the  quaint  old  chronicler  was  to 
the  Ludingtons  of  Shrawley  and  Worcester,  and  the 
one  member  of  that  family  whom  he  singled  out  for 
special  mention  was  Robert  Ludington,  gentleman, 
a  merchant  in  the  Levantine  trade.  In  the  pursuit  of 
business,  and  also  probably  for  curiosity  and  pleas 
ure,  he  traveled  extensively  in  Italy,  Greece,  Turkey, 
Egypt  and  Syria,  at  a  time  when  such  journeyings 
were  more  arduous  and  even  perilous  than  those  of 
to-day  in  equatorial  or  polar  wildernesses.  In  accord 
with  the  pious  custom  of  the  age  he  also  made  a  pil 
grimage  to  Palestine,  and  visited  the  chief  places 
made  memorable  in  Holy  Writ.  He  died  at  Worces 
ter  at  the  age  of  76  years,  in  1625,  a  few  years  before 
the  first  colonists  of  his  name  appeared  in  North 
America.  The  exact  degree  of  relationship  between 

[3] 


3*      HENRY  LUDINGTON 

him  and  them  is  not  now  ascertainahle,  but  it  is  sup- 
posable  that  it  was  close,  while  there  is  no  reason 
whatever  for  doubting  that  the  American  Luding- 
tons  were  members  of  that  same  family  "of  a  great 
estate,"  whether  or  not  they  came  from  the  particular 
branch  of  it  which  was  identified  with  Shrawley  and 
Worcester. 

For  the  Ludington  family  in  England  antedated 
Robert  Ludington  of  Worcester  by  many  genera 
tions,  and  was  established  elsewhere  in  the  Midlands 
than  in  Worcestershire.  Its  chief  seat  seems  to  have 
been  in  the  Eastern  Midlands,  though  its  name  has 
long  been  implanted  on  all  the  shires  from  Lincoln 
to  Worcester,  including  Rutland,  Leicester,  Hunt 
ingdon,  Northampton,  and  Warwick.  There  is  a 
credible  tradition  that  in  the  Third  Crusade  a  Lud 
ington  was  among  the  followers  of  Richard  Coeur  de 
Lion,  and  that  afterward,  when  that  adventurous 
monarch  was  a  prisoner  in  Austria,  he  sought  to  visit 
him  in  the  guise  of  a  holy  palmer,  in  order  to  devise 
with  him  some  plan  for  his  escape.  Because  of  these 
loyal  exploits,  we  are  told,  he  was  invested  with  a 
patent  of  nobility,  and  with  the  coat  of  arms  there 
after  borne  by  the  Ludington  family,  to  wit  ( accord 
ing  to  Burke's  Heraldry)  :  Pale  of  six  argent  and 
azure  on  a  chief,  gules  a  lion  passant  and  gardant. 
Crest,  a  palmer's  staff,  erect.  Motto,  Probum  non 
penitet. 

Authentic  mention  of  other  Ludingtons,  honor 
able  and  often  distinguished,  may  be  found  from 


GENEALOGICAL 

time  to  time  in  English  history,  especially  in  the  an 
nals  of  Tudor  and  Stuart  reigns.  In  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII  a  Sir  John  Ludington  was  a  man  of 
mark  in  the  north  of  England,  and  his  daughter, 
Elizabeth  Ludington,  married  first  an  alderman  of 
the  City  of  London,  and  second,  after  his  death,  Sir 
John  Chamberlain.  In  the  sixteenth  century,  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Ludington,  M.A.,  was  a  Fellow  of 
Christ  Church  College,  Oxford,  where  his  will,  dated 
May  28,  1593,  is  still  preserved.  In  the  next  century 
another  clergyman,  the  Rev.  Stephen  Ludington, 
D.D.,  was  married  about  1610  to  Anne,  daughter  of 
Richard  Streetfield,  at  Chiddington,  Kent.  After 
ward  he  was  made  prebendary  of  Langford,  Lin 
coln,  on  November  15,  1641,  and  in  June,  1674,  re 
signed  that  place  to  his  son,  the  Rev.  Stephen  Lud 
ington,  M.A.  He  was  also  rector  of  Carlton  Scrope, 
and  archdeacon  of  Stow,  filling  the  last-named  place 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1677.  His  grave  is  to  be 
seen  in  Lincoln  Cathedral.  His  son,  mentioned 
above,  was  married  to  Ann  Dillingham  in  Westmin 
ster  Abbey  in  1675. 

It  will  be  hereafter  observed  in  this  narrative  that 
the  family  name  of  Ludington  has  been  variously 
spelled  in  this  country,  as  Ludington,  Luddington, 
Ludinton,  Ludenton,  etc.  Some  of  these  variations 
have  appeared  also  in  England,  together  with  the 
form  Lydington,  which  has  not  been  used  here. 
These  same  forms  have  also  been  applied  to  the  sev 
eral  towns  and  parishes  which  bear  or  have  borne  the 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

family  name,  and  especially  that  one  parish  which  is 
so  ancient  and  which  was  formerly  so  closely  identi 
fied  with  the  Ludingtons  that  question  has  risen 
whether  the  parish  was  named  for  the  family  or  the 
family  derived  its  name  from  the  parish.  This  place, 
at  one  time  called  Lydington,  was  first  mentioned  in 
the  Domesday  Book  of  William  the  Conqueror, 
where  it  was  called  Ludington — whence  we  may 
properly  regard  that  as  the  original  and  correct  form 
of  the  name.  It  was  then  a  part  of  the  Bishopric  of 
Lincoln  and  of  the  county  of  Northampton;  Rut 
landshire,  in  which  the  place  now  is,  not  having  been 
set  off  from  Northampton  until  the  time  of  King 
John.  The  Bishop  of  Lincoln  had  a  residential 
palace  there,  which  was  afterward  transformed  into 
a  charity  hospital,  and  as  such  is  still  in  existence.  In 
the  chapel  of  the  hospital  is  an  ancient  folio  Bible 
bearing  the  inscription  "Ludington  Hospital  Bible," 
and  containing  in  manuscript  a  special  prayer  for 
the  hospital,  which  is  regularly  read  as  a  part  of  the 
service.  The  name  of  Loddington  is  borne  by  par 
ishes  in  Leicestershire  and  Northamptonshire,  that 
of  Luddington  by  parishes  in  Lincolnshire  and  War 
wickshire  (the  latter  near  Stratford-on-Avon  and  in 
timately  associated  with  Shakespeare),  and  that  of 
Luddington-in-the-Brook  by  one  which  is  partly  in 
Northamptonshire  and  partly  in  Huntingdonshire; 
all  testifying  to  the  early  extent  of  the  Ludington 
family  throughout  the  Midland  counties  of  England. 
The  earliest  record  of  a  Ludington  in  America  oc- 

C6] 


GENEALOGICAL 

curs  in  1635.  On  April  6  of  that  year  the  ship  Hope- 
well,  which  had  already  made  several  voyages  to  these 
shores,  sailed  from  London  for  Massachusetts  Bay, 
under  the  command  of  William  Bundock.  Her  com 
pany  of  eleven  passengers  was  notable  for  the  youth- 
fulness  of  all  its  members,  the  youngest  being  twelve 
and  the  oldest  only  twenty-two  years  of  age.  Seven 
of  them  were  young  men,  or  boys,  and  four  were 
girls.  One  of  the  latter,  whose  age  was  given  as 
eighteen  years,  was  registered  on  the  ship's  list  as 
"Christiom"  Ludington,  but  other  records,  in  Lon 
don,  show  that  the  name,  although  very  distinctly 
written  in  that  form,  should  have  been  "Christian." 
Concerning  her  origin  and  her  subsequent  fate,  all 
records  are  silent.  In  John  Farmer's  "List  of  An 
cient  Names  in  Boston  and  Vicinity,  1630-1644," 
however,  appears  the  name  of  "Ch.  Luddington"; 
presumably  that  of  this  same  young  woman.  Again, 
in  the  Old  Granary  burying  ground  in  Boston,  on 
Tomb  No.  108,  there  appear  the  names  of  Joseph 
Tilden  and  C.  Ludington;  and  a  plausible  conjec 
ture  is  that  Christian  Ludington  became  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Tilden  and  that  thus  they  were  both  buried  in 
the  same  grave.  But  this  is  conjecture  and  nothing 
more.  So  far  as  ascertained  facts  are  concerned, 
Christian  Ludington  makes  both  her  first  and  her 
last  recorded  appearance  in  that  passenger  list  of  the 
Hopewell. 

The  next  appearance  of  the  name  in  American 
annals,  however,— passing  by  the  mere  undated  men- 

m 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

tion  of  one  Christopher  Ludington  in  connection 
with  the  Virginia  colony, — places  us  upon  assured 
ground  and  marks  the  foundation  of  the  family  in 
America.  William  Ludington  was  born  in  England 
—place  not  known — in  1608,  and  his  wife  Ellen— 
her  family  name  not  known — was  also  born  there  in 
1617-  They  were  married  in  1636,  and  a  few  years 
later  came  to  America  and  settled  in  the  Massachu 
setts  Bay  colony,  in  that  part  of  Charlestown  which 
was  afterward  set  off  into  the  separate  town  of  Mai 
den.  The  date  of  their  migration  hither  is  not  prec 
isely  known.  Savage's  "Genealogical  Register" 
mentions  William  Ludington  as  living  in  Charles- 
town  in  1642;  which  is  quite  correct,  though,  as  Mr. 
Patrick  aptly  points  out,  the  date  is  by  no  means  con 
clusive  as  to  the  time  of  his  first  settlement  in  that 
place.  Indeed,  it  is  certain  that  he  had  settled  in 
Charlestown  some  time  before,  for  in  the  early  re 
cords  of  the  colony,  under  date  of  May  13,  1640,  ap 
pears  the  repeal  of  a  former  order  forbidding  the 
erection  of  houses  at  a  distance  of  more  than  half  a 
mile  from  the  meeting  house,  and  with  the  repeal  is 
an  order  remitting  to  William  Ludington  the  penalty 
for  having  disobeyed  the  original  decree.  That 
restriction  of  building  was,  of  course,  a  prudent  and 
probably  a  necessary  one,  in  the  early  days  of  the 
colony,  for  keeping  the  town  compact  and  thus  af 
fording  to  all  its  inhabitants  greater  security  against 
Indian  attacks.  It  seems  to  have  been  disregarded, 
however,  by  the  actual  building  of  some  houses  out- 

[8] 


GENEALOGICAL 

side  of  the  prescribed  line,  and  in  such  violation  a 
heavy  penalty  was  incurred.  By  1640  the  law  be 
came  obsolete.  Boston  had  then  been  founded  ten 
years.  The  colonies  of  New  Hampshire,  Rhode 
Island,  and  Connecticut  had  been  settled  and  organ 
ized.  And  three  years  before  the  Pequods  had  been 
vanquished.  It  was  therefore  fitting  to  rescind  the 
order,  and  to  let  the  borders  of  Charlestown  be  en 
larged.  We  may  assume  that  it  was  with  a  realiza 
tion  that  this  would  speedily  be  done  that  William 
Ludington,  either  at  the  very  beginning  of  1640 
or  previous  to  that  year,  built  his  house  on  the  for 
bidden  ground,  and  thus  incurred  the  penalty,  which, 
however,  was  not  imposed  upon  him;  and  we  may 
further  assume  that  it  was  this  act  of  his  which  finally 
called  official  attention  to  the  obsolete  character  of 
the  law  and  thus  brought  about  its  repeal.  In  the 
light  thus  thrown  upon  him,  William  Ludington  ap 
pears  as  probably  a  man  of  considerable  standing  in 
the  community,  and  of  high  general  esteem,  else  his 
disregard  of  the  law  would  scarcely  have  been  thus 
condoned. 

Reckoning,  then,  that  William  Ludington  was 
settled  in  his  house  in  the  outskirts  of  Charlestown— 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Mystic  River,  in  what  was 
later  called  Maiden — before  May  13,  1640,  the  date 
of  his  arrival  in  America  must  probably  be  placed  as 
early  as  1639,  if  not  even  earlier.  He  remained  at 
Charlestown  for  a  little  more  than  twenty  years,  and 
was  a  considerable  landowner  and  an  important 

[93 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

member  of  the  community.  Many  references  to  him 
appear  in  the  old  colonial  records,  with  some  appar 
ent  conflicts  of  date,  which  are  doubtless  due  to  the 
transition  stage  through  which  the  calendar  was  then 
passing.  Most  of  the  civilized  world  adopted  the 
present  Gregorian  calendar  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
but  it  was  not  until  1751  that  Great  Britain  and  the 
British  colonies  did  so.  Consequently  during  most  of 
our  colonial  history,  including  the  times  of  William 
Ludington,  the  year  began  on  March  25  instead  of 
January  1,  and  all  dates  in  the  three  months  of  Jan 
uary,  February  and  March  (down  to  the  24th)  were 
credited  to  a  different  year  from  that  to  which  we 
should  now  credit  them.  In  many  cases  historians 
have  endeavored  to  indicate  such  dates  with  accuracy 
by  giving  the  numbers  of  both  years,  thus:  March  1, 
1660-61.  But  in  many  cases  this  has  not  been  done 
and  only  a  single  year  number  is  given,  thus  causing 
much  uncertainty  and  doubt  as  to  which  year  is 
meant.  There  were  also  other  disturbances  of  chro 
nology,  and  other  differences  in  the  statement  of 
dates,  involving  other  months  of  the  year ;  especially 
that  of  two  months'  difference  at  what  is  now  the  end 
of  the  year.  Thus  the  birth  of  William  Ludington's 
daughter  Mary  is  variously  stated  to  have  occurred 
on  December  6,  1642,  December  6,  1642-43,  Feb 
ruary  6,  1643,  and  February  6,  1642-43.  Also  the 
birth  and  death  of  his  son  Matthew  are  credited, 
respectively,  to  October  16,  1657,  and  November  12, 
1657,  and  to  December  16,  1657,  and  January  12, 

[10] 


GENEALOGICAL 

1658.  There  is  record  of  the  purchase,  on  October 
10,  1649,  of  a  tract  of  twenty  acres  of  land  at  Mai 
den,  by  William  Ludington,  described  in  the  deed  as 
a  weaver,  from  Ralph  Hall,  a  pipe-stave  maker,  and 
also  of  the  sale  of  five  acres  by  William  Ludington  to 
Joseph  Carter,  a  currier.  The  deed  given  by  Ralph 
Hall  is  entitled  "A  Sale  of  Land  by  Ralph  Hall 
unto  William  Luddington,  both  of  Charlestowne, 
the  10th  day  of  the  10th  moneth,  1649,"  and  runs  as 
follows : 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  That  I,  Ralph 
Hall,  of  Charletowne  in  New  England,  Pipe 
stave  maker,  for  a  certaine  valluable  considera 
tion  by  mee  in  hand  Received,  by  which  I  doe 
acknowledge  myselfe  to  be  fully  satisfied,  and 
payed,  and  contented;  Have  bargained,  sould, 
given,  and  granted,  and  doe  by  these  presents 
Bargaine,  sell,  give,  and  grant  unto  william  Lud 
dington  of  Charletowne  aforesayd,  Weaver, 
Twenty  Achors  of  Land,  more  or  less,  scituate, 
Lying,  and  Beeing  in  Maulden,  That  is  to  say, 
fifteen  Acres  of  Land,  more  or  less  which  I,  the 
sayd  Ralph  formerly  purchased  at  the  hand  of 
Thomas  Peirce,  of  Charltowne,  senior,  Bounded 
on  the  Northwest  by  the  land  of  Mr.  Palgrave, 
Phisition,  on  the  Northeast  by  the  Lands  of  John 
Sybly,  on  the  South  Easte  by  the  Lands  of 
James  Hubbert,  and  on  the  South  west  by  the 
Land  of  widdow  Coale,  And  the  other  five  Acres 
herein  mencioned  sould  to  the  sayd  William,  Are 
five  Acres,  more,  or  less,  bounded  on  the  south 
east  by  the  Land  of  Widdow  Coale  aforesaid,  on 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

the  southwest  by  Thomas  Grover  and  Thomas 
Osborne,  Northeast  by  the  Ground  of  Thomas 
Molton,  and  Northwest  by  the  forsayde  fifeteen 
Acres:  which  five  acres  I  formerly  purchased  of 
Mr.  John  Hodges,  of  Charltowne.  To  Have 
and  to  hould  the  sayd  fifeteen  acres,  and  five 
Acres  of  Lands,  with  all  the  Appurtenances 
and  priviledges  thereoff  To  Him,  the  sayd  Wil 
liam  Luddington  his  heigres  and  Assignees  for 
ever:  And  by  mee,  the  sayd  Ralph  Hall,  and 
Mary  my  wife,  to  bee  bargained  sould,  given,, 
and  confirmed  unto  him,  the  sayd  william,  and  his 
heigres  and  assignes  for  him,  and  them  peasable 
and  quietly  to  possess,  inioy,  and  improve  to  his 
and  their  owne  proper  use  and  usses  for  ever,  and 
the  same  by  us  by  vertue  hereoff  to  bee  war- 
rantedtised  (sic)  mayntained,  and  defended 
from  any  other  person  or  persons  hereafter  Lay 
ing  clayme  to  the  same  by  any  former  contract  or 
agreement  concerning  the  same:  In  witness 
whereof,  I,  the  sayd  Ralph  Hall  with  Mary  my 
wife,  for  our  selves,  our  heires,  executors  and  Ad 
ministrators,  have  hereunto  sett  our  hands  and 
scales. 

Dated  this  Tenth  day  of  December  1649. 

This  is  testified  before  the  worshipfull  Mr. 
Richard  Bellingham. 

On  November  30,  1651,  William  Ludington  was 
mentioned  in  the  will  of  Henry  Sandyes,  of  Charles- 
town,  as  one  of  the  creditors  of  his  estate,  and  in  166O 
he  was  enrolled  as  a  juror  in  Maiden.  Early  in  the 
latter  year,  however,  he  removed  from  Maiden  or 
Charlestown  to  the  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  col- 


GENEALOGICAL 

ony,  and  there  settled  at  East  Haven,  adjoining 
Branford,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Quinnipiac  River. 
Five  years  before  there  had  been  established  at  that 
place  the  first  iron  works  in  Connecticut.  The  raw 
material  used  was  the  rich  bog  ore  which  was  then 
found  in  large  quantities  in  the  swamps  of  North 
Haven  and  elsewhere,  precisely  like  that  which  at  a 
still  later  date  was  abundantly  found  and  worked  in 
the  swamps  of  southern  New  Jersey,  where  the  name 
of  "Furnace"  is  still  borne  by  more  than  one  village 
on  the  site  of  a  long-abandoned  foundry.  This  in 
dustry  flourished  at  East  Haven  until  about  1680, 
when  the  supply  of  bog  ore  was  exhausted  and  the 
works  were  closed.  Although  William  Ludington 
had  been  a  weaver  at  Maiden,  he  appears  to  have 
been  interested  in  these  iron  works,  and  indeed  prob 
ably  removed  to  East  Haven  for  the  sake  of  connect 
ing  and  identifying  himself  with  them.  But  his 
career  there  was  short.  On  March  27, 1660,  evidently 
soon  after  his  arrival  there,  he  was  complainant  in  a 
slander  suit,  and  in  either  the  same  year  or  the  next 
year  he  died,  at  the  East  Haven  iron  works.  The 
manner  of  his  death,  whether  from  sickness  or  from 
accident,  is  unknown.  But  it  evidently  produced 
some  impression  in  the  community,  since  it  is  the  only 
death  specially  recorded  in  the  early  annals  of  the 
place. 

The  precise  date  of  his  death,  even  the  year  in 
which  it  occurred,  is  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  Mr. 
Patrick  quotes  a  passage  from  the  East  Haven  rec- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

ords  which  says:  "In  1662  John  Porter  obtained  a 
piece  of  land  to  set  his  blacksmith  shop  upon  .  .  . 
and  about  the  same  time  William  Ludington  died." 
Therefore  he  concludes  that  William  Ludington 
died  in  1662.  But  was  it  1662  according  to  the  chro 
nology  of  those  times  or  according  to  that  of  our 
time?  Wyman's  records  of  Charlestown  and  Mai 
den,  which  mention  William  Ludington's  departure 
thence  for  East  Haven,  relate  that  on  October  1, 
1661,  John  White  made  petition  for  the  appointment 
of  an  administrator  of  William  Ludington's  estate 
in  Middlesex  County,  Massachusetts,  and  Pope's 
"Pioneers  of  Massachusetts"  confirms  that  record, 
giving  the  name  of  the  petitioner  as  Wayte  or  Waite, 
and  adding  that  the  inventory  of  the  estate  was  filed 
by  James  Barrat,  or  Barret,  on  April  1,  1662.  Mr. 
Patrick  has  the  name  Bariat  and  the  date  February 
1,  1662.  Here  we  have,  then,  the  same  discrepancy 
of  exactly  two  months  in  statement  of  date  which  was 
noticed  in  the  case  of  Matthew  Ludington's  birth 
and  death.  Of  course,  if  the  petition  for  administra 
tion  of  William  Ludington's  estate  was  made  on 
October  1, 1661,  his  death  must  have  occurred  before 
that  date,  instead  of  in  1662  as  the  East  Haven  re 
cords  suggest.  The  explanation  of  the  apparent 
conflict  of  dates  is  doubtless  to  be  found  in  the 
changes  of  calendar  to  which  reference  has  been 
made,  one  historian  giving  the  date  according  to  the 
chronology  then  prevailing  and  another  according  to 
that  of  the  present  day.  Concerning  the  date  of  the 


GENEALOGICAL 


probating  of  his  estate  at  East  Haven,  however,  there 
is  apparently  no  doubt,  since  in  the  records  of  it  the 
dual  year-dates  are  given.  That  estate  was  inven 
toried  and  appraised  by  John  Cooper  and  Matthew 
Moulthrop,  and  their  inventory,  according  to  Hoad- 
ly's  "New  Haven  Colonial  Records,"  was  filed  in 
court  at  New  Haven  on  March  3,  1662,  according  to 
the  chronology  of  that  time,  or  1663  according  to 
ours.  This  interesting  document  was  entitled  "An 
Inventory  of  ye  Estate  of  William  Ludington,  late 
of  New  Haven,  deceased,  amounting  to  £183  and 
10s.,  upon  Oath  attested  yt  ye  Aprizents  was  just 
to  the  best  of  their  light,  by  John  Cooper,  Sen., 
and  Matthew  Moulthrop  in  Court  at  New  Haven, 
1662—63."  It  ran  in  detail  as  follows: 


Inv'ty  &  bd's,  boulsters  pillows, 
coverlits,  rugs,  cur 
tains — value       .     .     . 

^  sheets,  pillow  covers,  table 
clothes  and  a  blanket  . 

^  five  yards  %  of  krosin    .     . 

^  four  yards  of  red  kersey    . 

^  six  yards  of  kersey  .     .     . 

^  five  yards  of  serze  at  7s    . 

sP  eight  yards  blew  kersey  at 
7s 

$  twelve  yards  of  serge  at  6s 

$  l%th  of  wosted  yarns  .     . 

$  la/4th  of  woolen  yarns    .     . 


Ibs 


20 

05 
02 
01 
02 
01 

02 
00 
00 
00 


38 


sh    d. 


07 


16 
00 
00 
14 
15 


16 
18 
12 
05 


02 


00 
00 
00 
00 
00 


00 
00 
00 
00 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 


Ibs 

sh 

d. 

Brought  Forward, 

38 

3 

2 

Inv'ty  $  4   guns,   2    swords   and   a 

piece  of  a  sword     .     . 

05 

16 

00 

$  3  chests  and  three  boxes     . 

02 

00 

00 

$  pewter,  chamber  pots, 

spoons  and  2  sauce 

pans          

02 

13 

02 

$  2  dripping  pans,  1  cup,  4 

cream  pots,  some 

eartyn  ware  .... 

00 

08 

02 

$  3  bottles  and  a  tu  mill  .     . 

00 

02 

06 

sP  warming  pan,  2  iron  pots, 

kettle,  brass  pot  2  skil 

lets,  frying  pan     .     . 

03 

15 

00 

$  iron   dogs,   tramell,   share 

and  coulter  and  a  iron 

square       

01 

01 

06 

$  tooles,  wedges,  sithes  &  a 

payre  of  still  yards  & 

a  7lb  waight      .     .     . 

05 

04 

00 

$  a  smoothing  iron,  a  parcell 

of  wayles,  a  hogshead 

&  2  chests      .... 

01 

08 

06 

$  sheeps  wooll  and  cotton 

wooli    

02 

10 

09 

"       f  Indyan  corne,  7lb  10s;  10 

bush  turnips,  18s   .     . 

08 

08 

00 

"       $  2  loonies  and  furniture,  3 

chayres     

05 

09 

00 

3$  wooden   ware,    a   table    & 

forme,   a  sieve,   some 

trenches  &  bagges  .     . 

01 

09 

04 

78 

9 

1 

[163 


GENEALOGICAL 


Ibs 

sh 

Brought  Forward, 

78 

9 

Inv'ty  $  house  and  land  60lbs     .     . 

60 

00 

3$  3  cowes   &  two  calves,   2 

sowes  &  3  shoates  .     . 

16 

06 

$  6  loads  of  hay,  50s,  and 

some  other  thinges  in 

all   

30 

07 

185 

02 

The  Estate  Cr.  .     

00 

15 

The  Estate  Dr  

02 

07 

Which  being  deducted  there  remains 

183 

^  I 

10 

00 


08 


00 

09 
00 
09 
.00 

The  marke,  i.  e.  of          ) 

John  Cooper,  >  Apprisers. 

Mathew  Moulthrop,  ) 

Again,  in  the  "Records  of  the  Proprietors  of  New 
Haven"  we  find  that  "At  a  Court  held  at  New 
Haven  March  3,  1662-3  ...  an  inventory  of  the 
Estate  of  Willm.  Luddington  deceased  whas  pre 
sented  .  .  .  The  widdow  upon  oath  attested  to  the 
fulness  of  it  to  the  best  of  her  knowledge.  .  .  .  The 
widdow  being  asked  if  her  husband  made  noe  will 
answered  that  she  knew  of  none  for  she  was  not  at 
home  when  he  died  .  .  .  The  matter  respecting  the 
childrens  portions  was  deferred  till  next  court  &  the 
.  .  .  widdow  with  him  that  shee  was  to  marry  &  all 
her  children  above  fourteen  years  of  age  was  ordered 
then  to  appear  .  .  ."  At  this  date,  therefore,  Wil 
liam  Ludington's  widow  was  engaged  to  be  married 
again,  and  that  engagement  was  publicly  announced. 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Moreover,  she  was  actually  married  to  her  second 
husband,  John  Rose,  a  few  weeks  later,  for  on  May  5 
following,  in  1662-63,  according  to  the  "Proprietors' 
Records,"  the  court  was  again  in  session,  and  "John 
Rose  who  married  widdow  Ludington  was  called  to 
know  what  security  he  would  give  for  the  childrens 
portions  that  was  not  yet  of  age  to  receive  them."  It 
is  true  that  in  those  days  the  period  of  mourning  be 
fore  remarriage  was  sometimes  abbreviated,  but  it  is 
scarcely  conceivable  that  this  widow's  marriage  took 
place  within  a  few  months  of  her  husband's  death,  or 
sooner  than  a  year  thereafter.  It  may  therefore  be 
assumed  that  William  Ludington's  death,  at  the 
East  Haven  iron  works,  occurred  at  least  as  early  as 
March  or  April,  1661-62. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  William  Ludington 
was  not  only  a  man  of  note  in  the  East  Haven  com 
munity  but  that  also  he  was  a  man  of  considerable 
property— more  than  would  be  suggested  by  the  item 
of  "house  and  land  60  Ibs."  in  the  inventory.  For 
the  New  Haven  Land  Records  show  that  in  1723  his 
son,  William  Ludington,  2nd,  sold  to  Thomas  Robin 
son  "part  of  that  tract  of  land  set  out  to  my  father, 
William  Luddington,  which  tract  contains  100 
acres."  This  property  was  in  East  Haven,  just 
across  the  river  from  Branford. 

The  children  of  William  and  Ellen  Ludington 
were  seven  in  number.  The  first  was  Thomas,  who 
was  born  (probably  in  England)  in  1637.  He  re 
moved  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  in  1666,  and  became 

* 


GENEALOGICAL 

a  farmer — since  when  in  1689  he  sold  some  land  with 
a  house  and  barn  at  New  Haven  he  described  himself 
in  the  deed  as  a  husbandman.  He  was  an  assessor 
and  a  surveyor  of  highways  at  Newark,  and  left  chil 
dren  whose  descendants  are  now  to  be  found  in  the 
northern  part  of  New  Jersey.  His  oldest  child, 
John,  remained  at  New  Haven,  married,  and  had 
issue,  his  first-born,  James,  being  a  soldier  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war  and  being  killed  in  battle  on 
September  8, 1756.  The  second  child  of  William  and 
Ellen  Ludington  was  John  Ludington,  who  was 
born  (probably  at  Charlestown,  Massachusetts)  in 
1640.  He  was  living  at  East  Haven  in  1664,  and 
afterward,  Mr.  Patrick  thinks,  removed  to  Vermont. 
The  third  child  was  Mary,  of  whose  birth  various 
dates  are  given,  as  already  noted.  The  fourth  was 
Henry  Ludington,  the  date  of  whose  birth  is  not 
known,  but  who  was  killed  in  the  war  with  King 
Philip,  at  the  end  of  1675  or  beginning  of  1676,  as 
appears  in  the  "New  Haven  Probate  Records," 
where  is  found  an  inventory  of  the  estate  of  "Henry 
Luddington  late  of  N.  haven  slayne  in  the  warre 
taken  &  apprised  by  Mathew  Moulthrop  &  John 
Potter  Janry.  3,  1676."  The  fifth  child  was  Han 
nah,  the  dates  of  whose  birth  and  death  are  unknown. 
The  sixth  child  was  William  Ludington,  2nd,  who 
was  born  about  1655  and  died  in  February,  1737. 
His  first  wife  was  Martha  Rose,  daughter  of  his  step 
father,  John  Rose,  and  his  second  was  Mercy  White- 
head.  According  to  Dodd's  "East  Haven  Register " 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

he  was  a  man  of  means,  of  intelligence,  of  ability,  and 
of  important  standing  in  the  community.  He  had 
two  sons  and  one  daughter  by  his  first  wife,  and  two 
sons  and  six  daughters  by  his  second.  His  first-born, 
the  son  of  Martha  Rose,  was  Henry  Ludington,  who 
was  born  in  1679,  was  a  carpenter,  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  William  Collins,  on  August  20,  1700, 
had  eight  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  died  in  the 
summer  of  1727 — of  whom,  or  of  his  descendants,  we 
shall  presently  hear  much  more.  Finally,  the  sev 
enth  child  of  William  and  Ellen  Ludington  was 
Matthew,  who  as  already  related  was  born  at  Maiden 
and  died  in  infancy.  Despite  the  removal  of  Thomas 
Ludington  to  Newark,  and  that  of  John  Ludington 
(probably)  to  Vermont,  they  appear  to  have  re 
tained  much  interest  in  the  New  Haven  colony,  since 
in  the  "Colony  Record  of  Deeds"  of  Connecticut  we 
find  Thomas,  John,  and  William  Ludington  enum 
erated  among  the  proprietors  of  New  Haven  in 
1685,  who  were,  presumably,  the  above  mentioned 
first,  second,  and  sixth  children  of  William  and 
Ellen  Ludington. 

Recurring  for  a  moment  to  the  family  of  William 
Ludington,  2nd,  and  passing  by  for  the  time  his 
first-born,  Henry  Ludington,  it  is  to  be  observed 
that  his  second  child,  Eleanor,  married  Nathaniel 
Bailey,  of  Guilford,  Connecticut,  and  had  issue;  his 
third,  William  Ludington,  3rd,  married  Anna 
Hodge,  lived  at  Waterbury  and  Plymouth,  Connec 
ticut,  and  had  issue,  his  sixth  son,  Samuel,  serving  in 

[20] 


GENEALOGICAL 

the  French  and  Indian  war,  and  his  grandson,  Tim 
othy,  son  of  William  3rd's  first-born,  Matthew,  also 
serving  in  that  war  and  being  killed  in  battle  at  East 
Haven  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution;  the  fourth, 
Mercy,  married  Ebenezer  Deanes  or  Dains,  of  Nor 
wich,  Connecticut,  and  had  issue;  the  fifth,  Mary, 
married  John  Dawson,  of  East  Haven,  and  had 
issue;  the  sixth,  Hannah,  married  Isaac  Penfield,  of 
New  Haven,  and  had  issue ;  the  seventh,  John,  mar 
ried  Elizabeth  Potter,  and  had  issue,  his  son  Jude 
serving  in  the  French  and  Indian  war;  the  eighth, 
Eliphalet,  married  Abigail  Collins,  and  had  issue,  his 
third  son,  Amos,  serving  in  the  French  and  Indian 
war;  the  ninth,  Elizabeth,  died  in  childhood;  the 
tenth,  Dorothy,  married  Benjamin  Mallory  and  had 
issue ;  and  the  eleventh,  Dorcas,  married  James  Way 
and  had  issue. 

Returning  now  to  Henry  Ludington,  eldest  son  of 
William  Ludington,  2nd,  who  was  the  sixth  child  of 
the  original  William  Ludington,  it  is  to  be  observed 
that  his  first  child,  Daniel,  married  first  Hannah 
Payne,  and  second  Susannah  Clark,  and  had  issue, 
his  second  child,  Ezra,  serving  in  the  French  and  In 
dian  war,  and  his  ninth,  Collins,  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution;  his  second,  William  Ludington,  mar 
ried  first  Mary  Knowles,  of  Branford,  and  second 
Mary  Wilkinson,  of  Branford,  and  had  issue — of 
whom  we  shall  hereafter  hear  much  more ;  his  third, 
Sarah,  died  in  childhood;  his  fourth,  Dinah,  married 
Isaac  Thorpe;  his  fifth,  Lydia,  married  Moses 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Thorpe;  his  sixth,  Nathaniel,  married  first  Mary 
Chidsey,  and  second  Eunice  (Russell)  Smith,  and 
had  issue ;  his  seventh,  Moses,  married  Eunice  Chid 
sey;  his  eighth,  Aaron,  died  at  sea;  his  ninth,  Elisha, 
died  in  infancy ;  his  tenth,  also  named  Elisha,  settled 
in  Phillipse  Precinct,  Dutchess  County,  New  York, 
married,  and  had  a  daughter,  Abigail,  of  whom  more 
hereafter;  his  eleventh,  Sarah,  probably  died  unmar 
ried,  though  Dodd's  "East  Haven  Register"  says 
she  married  Daniel  Mead ;  and  his  twelfth,  Thomas, 
was  drowned,  unmarried. 

Turning  back,  once  more,  to  the  William  Luding- 
ton  last  mentioned,  who  was  the  second  son  of  Henry 
Ludington,  we  find  that  he  was  born  at  Branford, 
Connecticut,  on  September  6,  1702.  He  married 
Mary  Knowles,  of  Branford,  on  November  5,  1730. 
She  died  on  April  16, 1759,  and  on  April  17,  1760,- 
just  a  day  after  the  year  of  mourning  had  elapsed!— 
he  married  for  his  second  wife  Mary  Wilkinson,  also 
of  Branford.  His  eight  children,  all  of  his  first  wife, 
were  as  follows :  First,  Submit,  who  married  Stephen 
Johnson,  of  Branford;  second,  Mary;  third,  Henry, 
of  whom  we  shall  hear  more,  since  he  forms  the  chief 
subject  of  this  book;  fourth,  Lydia,  who  married 
William  (or,  according  to  Dodd,  Aaron)  Buckley,  of 
Branford;  fifth,  Samuel;  sixth,  Rebecca;  seventh, 
Anne ;  and  eighth,  Stephen.  On  the  night  of  Mon 
day,  May  20,  1754,  part  of  William  Ludington's 
house  at  Branford  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  his 
sixth  and  seventh  children,  Rebecca  and  Anne,  aged 


GENEALOGICAL 

seven  and  four  years,  respectively,  perished  in  the 
flames. 

Attention  is  thus  finally  centered  upon  the  second 
Henry  Ludington,  who  was  the  third  child  of  Wil 
liam  Ludington,  who  was  the  second  child  of  the  first 
Henry  Ludington,  who  was  the  first  child  of  the  sec 
ond  William  Ludington,  who  was  the  sixth  child  of 
the  first  William  Ludington,  who  was  the  founder  of 
the  Ludington  family  in  America.  The  sources  of 
information  concerning  him  and  his  career,  which 
have  been  mentioned  in  the  preface  to  this  volume, 
are  varied  and  numerous  rather  than  copious  or  com 
prehensive  ;  but  they  are  sufficient  to  indicate  that  he 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  force  of  character 
and  of  more  than  average  importance  and  influence 
in  his  time  and  place,  and  that  he  is  entitled  to  re 
membrance  and  to  enrolment  among  those  who  con 
tributed  materially,  and  with  no  little  sacrifice  of  self, 
to  the  making  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  of  the 
United  States  of  America. 

jl^  cu  :/i: 

fi^.L^a    J^^L!    Cvvt 


rt^A^^s?    orM^^-v'1--'^ 
>tu-w4.^-<~     ">   T 


CHAPTER  II 

BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION 

HENRY  LUDINGTON,  the  third  child  of 
William  and  Mary  (Knowles)  Ludington, 
was  born  at  Branford,  Connecticut,  on  May  25, 
1739.  Some  records  give  the  date  as  1738,  but  the 
weight  of  authority  indicates  the  later  year.  Bran- 
ford,  originally  called  Totoket,  was  a  part  of  the 
second  purchase  at  New  Haven  in  1638,  but  was  not 
successfully  settled  until  two  years  later,  when  a  dis 
satisfied  company  from  Wethersfield,  headed  by 
William  Swayne,  secured  a  grant  of  it.  Together 
with  Milford,  Guilford,  Stamford,  Southold  (Long 
Island),  and  New  Haven,  it  made  up  the  separate 
jurisdiction  of  New  Haven,  under  an  ecclesiastical 
government,  until  1665,  when  all  were  merged  into 
the  greater  Colony  of  Connecticut,  Branford  being 
erected  into  an  organized  town  with  representation 
in  the  General  Court,  in  1651.  The  place  won  last 
ing  distinction  in  1700,  when  it  was  the  scene  of  the 
practical  founding  of  Yale  College;  ten  ministers, 
who  had  been  named  as  trustees  of  "The  School  of 
the  Church,"  each  laying  upon  the  table  in  their 
meeting-room  a  number  of  books,  with  the  words,  "I 
give  these  books  for  the  founding  of  a  college  in  this 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

colony."  The  next  year  the  college  was  chartered 
and  was  formally  opened  at  Saybrook,  and  in  1716- 
17  it  was  permanently  removed  to  New  Haven.  At 
the  time  of  Henry  Ludingtori's  birth,  therefore,  New 
Haven  had  become  fully  established  as  the  metropolis 
of  that  part  of  the  colony,  and  Branford,  which  had 
at  first  been  its  peer  and  rival,  had  become  reconciled 
to  the  status  of  a  suburban  town.  The  educational 
facilities  of  Branford  were  similar  to  those  of  other 
colonial  towns;  to  wit,  primitive  in  character  and 
chiefly  under  church  control.  To  what  extent  young 
Ludington  availed  himself  of  them  does  not  appear, 
but  so  far  as  may  be  judged  from  his  letters  and 
other  papers  in  after  years  he  was  an  indifferent 
scholar,  probably  thinking  more  of  action  than  of 
study. 

Such  as  his  schooling  was,  however,  it  was  ended 
at  an  early  date  and  the  school-boy  became  a  man  of 
action  when  only  half-way  through  his  teens.  The 
epoch-making  struggle  commonly  known  as  the 
French  and  Indian  War,  which  was  really  a  part  of 
the  Seven  Years'  War  in  Europe,  and  which  secured 
for  the  English  absolute  dominance  in  North  Amer 
ica  and  transformed  the  maps  of  two  continents,  be 
gan  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  made  a  strong 
appeal  to  his  adventurous  and  daring  disposition; 
and  at  an  early  date,  probably  in  1755,  though  the 
meager  records  now  in  existence  are  not  conclusive 
on  that  point,  he  enlisted  in  those  Colonial  levies 
which  formed  so  invaluable  an  adjunct  to  the  regular 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

British  Army  in  all  the  campaigns  of  that  war.  No 
complete  roster  of  the  Connecticut  troops  is  now  in 
existence,  but  the  "East  Haven  Register"  tells  us 
that  many  men  from  East  Haven  and  Branf ord  were 
enlisted  for  service  with  the  British  Army  near  the 
Great  Lakes,  of  whom  the  greater  part  were  lost 
through  sickness  and  in  battle.  In  these  levies  were 
several  members  of  the  Ludington  family,  beside 
Henry  Ludington.  Our  genealogical  review  has  al 
ready  indicated  the  service  in  that  war  of  James, 
Ezra,  Timothy,  Samuel,  Jude,  and  Amos  Luding 
ton,  uncles  and  cousins  of  Henry  Ludington.  As 
some  of  the  Ludingtons  had,  years  before  the  war, 
removed  from  Connecticut  to  Dutchess  County,  New 
York,  some  members  of  the  family  were  also  among 
the  troops  from  the  latter  region.  Old  records  tell 
that  in  Captain  Richard  Rea's  Dutchess  County 
regiment  were  two  young  farmers,  Comfort  Loudin- 
ton  and  Asa  Loudinton— obviously  meaning  Lud 
ington — respectively  19  and  17  years  old;  the  former 
with  brown  eyes  and  dark  complexion,  the  latter  with 
brown  eyes  and  fresh  complexion. 

Henry  Ludington  enlisted  in  Captain  Foote's 
company  of  the  Second  Connecticut  Regiment,  a 
notable  body  of  troops  which  was  put  forward  to 
bear  much  of  the  brunt  of  the  campaign.  The  regi 
ment  was  at  first  commanded  by  Colonel  Elizur 
Goodrich,  and  later  by  Colonel  Nathan  Whiting,  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  Colonial  officers  of  that 
war.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  duty  under 

[26] 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

Major-General  (afterward  Sir)  William  Johnson, 
who,  with  a  Colonial  army  and  numerous  Indian 
allies  under  the  famous  Mohawk  chieftain  Hendrick, 
was  moving  to  meet  the  French  at  Lake  George. 
The  march  from  New  Haven  was  made  by  way  of 
Amenia  and  Dover,  in  Dutchess  County,  New  York, 
to  the  Hudson  River,  and  thence  northward  to  the 
"dark  and  bloody  ground"  of  the  North  Woods. 
Young  Ludington  was  of  a  lively  and  venturesome 
disposition  and,  as  family  traditions  show,  had  a  pro 
pensity  to  practical  joking  which  more  than  once  put 
him  in  peril  of  not  undeserved  punishment,  which, 
however,  he  managed  to  avoid. 

It  was  early  in  September,  1755,  when  he  was  in 
only  his  seventeenth  year,  that  the  young  soldier  re 
ceived  his  "baptism  of  fire"  in  the  desperate  battle  of 
Lake  George,  near  the  little  sheet  of  water  afterward 
known  as  Bloody  Pond  because  of  the  hue  its  water 
took  from  the  gory  drainage  of  the  battlefield.  Gen 
eral  Johnson,  with  his  Colonial  troops  and  Indian 
allies,  was  moving  northward.  Baron  Dieskau,  with 
a  French  and  Indian  army,  moving  southward,  em 
barked  at  Fort  Frederick,  Crown  Point,  came  down 
the  lake  in  a  fleet  of  small  boats,  and  landed  at 
Skenesborough,  now  Whitehall.  On  the  night  of 
Sunday,  September  7,  word  came  to  Johnson  that 
the  enemy  was  marching  down  from  Fort  Edward  to 
Lake  George,  and  early  the  next  morning  plans  were 
made  to  meet  them.  It  was  at  first  suggested  that 
only  a  few  hundred  men  be  sent  forward  to  hold  the 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

enemy  in  check  until  the  main  army  could  dispose 
and  fortify  itself,  but  Hendrick,  the  shrewd  Mohawk 
warrior,  objected  to  sending  so  small  a  force.  "If 
they  are  to  fight,"  he  said,  "they  are  too  few;  if  they 
are  to  be  killed,  they  are  too  many."  Accordingly 
the  number  was  increased  to  1,200,  comprising  and, 
indeed,  led  by  the  Connecticut  troops.  Colonel 
Ephraim  Williams,  a  brave  and  skilful  officer,  was  in 
command,  with  Colonel  Nathan  Whiting,  of  New 
Haven,  as  his  chief  lieutenant.  They  came  upon  the 
enemy  at  Rocky  Brook,  about  four  miles  from  Lake 
George,  and  found  the  French  and  Indians  arrayed 
in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  the  horns  of  which  extended 
for  some  distance  on  both  sides  of  the  road  which 
there  led  through  a  dense  forest.  The  devoted  Col 
onial  detachment  marched  straight  at  the  center  of 
the  crescent,  and  was  quickly  attacked  in  front  and 
on  both  flanks  at  the  same  time.  Williams  and  Hen 
drick  were  among  the  first  to  fall,  and  their  followers 
were  cut  down  in  great  numbers.  Thereupon  Col 
onel  Whiting  succeeded  to  the  general  command,  and 
perceiving  that  the  Colonials  were  outnumbered  and 
outflanked,  ordered  a  retreat,  which  was  skilfully 
conducted,  with  little  further  loss.  When  the  army 
was  thus  reunited,  hasty  preparations  were  made  to 
meet  the  onslaught  of  the  foe,  and  at  noon  the  con 
flict  began  in  deadly  earnest.  The  forces  were  com 
manded,  respectively,  by  Johnson  and  Dieskau  in 
person,  until  the  former  was  disabled  by  a  wound, 
when  his  place  was  taken  by  General  Lyman,  who 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

fulfilled  his  duties  with  singular  ability  and  success. 
After  four  hours  of  fighting  on  the  defensive,  the 
English  and  Colonials  leaped  over  their  breastworks 
and  charged  the  foe  with  irresistible  fury.  The 
French  and  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaugh 
ter,  and  Baron  Dieskau  himself,  badly  wounded,  was 
taken  prisoner. 


Old  gun  used  by  Henry  Ludington  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.     Now 

owned  by  Frederick  Ludington,  son  of  the  late  Governor 

Harrison  Ludington,  of  Wisconsin. 

(From  sketch  made  by  Miss  Alice  Ludington,  great-great-granddaughter 
of  Henry  Ludington. 

Henry  Ludington  was  in  the  thickest  of  both  parts 
of  this  battle,  having  been  in  the  detachment  which 
was  sent  forward  in  advance.  He  came  off  un 
scathed,  but  he  had  the  heartrending  experience  of 
seeing  both  his  uncle  and  his  cousin  shot  dead  at  his 
side.  These  were  probably  his  uncle  Amos  Luding 
ton  (called  Asa  in  the  "East  Haven  Register,"  as  al 
ready  noted),  son  of  Eliphalet  Ludington,  and  his 
cousin  Ezra,  son  of  Daniel  Ludington.  The  uncle 
fell  first,  pierced  by  a  French  bullet.  The  cousin 
sprang  to  his  side  and  stooped  to  lift  him,  and  in  the 
act  was  himself  shot,  and  a  few  moments  later  both 
died.  Soon  after  this  battle  the  term  of  enlist 
ment  of  the  Connecticut  militia  expired,  but  reenlist- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

ments  were  general.  According  to  the  French  and 
Indian  War  Rolls,  and  the  Connecticut  Historical 
Collections  as  searched  by  Mr.  Patrick,  Henry  Lud- 
ington  again  enlisted  on  April  19, 1756,  served  under 
Colonel  Andrew  Ward  at  Crown  Point,  and  was  dis 
charged  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  on  November 
13,  1756.  Again,  he  was  in  Lieutenant  Maltbie's 
company,  under  Colonel  Newton,  at  the  time  of  the 
"general  alarm"  for  the  relief  of  Fort  William  Hen 
ry,  in  August,  1757,  on  which  occasion  his  time  of 
service  was  only  fifteen  days.  Finally,  he  was  in  the 
campaign  of  1759,  in  the  Second  Connecticut  Regi 
ment,  under  Colonel  Nathan  Whiting,  being  a  mem 
ber  of  David  Baldwin's  Third  Company.  In  this 
year  he  enlisted  on  April  14,  and  was  duly  discharged 
on  December  21,  1759.  During  this  memorable 
period  of  service  the  young  soldier  marched  with  the 
British  and  American  troops  to  Canada,  and  partici 
pated  in  the  crowning  triumph  at  Quebec,  on  Sep 
tember  13,  1759,  and  a  little  later  was  intrusted  with 
the  charge  of  a  company  of  sixty  wounded  or  invalid 
soldiers,  who  were  to  return  to  New  England.  The 
march  was  made  across  country,  from  Quebec  to  Bos 
ton,  in  the  dead  of  the  very  severe  winter  of  1759-60,, 
and  the  labors  and  perils  of  the  journey  were  suffi 
cient  to  tax  to  the  utmost  the  skill  and  resourcefulness 
of  the  youth  of  only  twenty  years.  For  many  nights 
their  camp  consisted  of  caves  or  burrows  in  the  snow 
drifts,  where  they  slept  on  beds  of  spruce  boughs, 
wrapped  in  their  blankets.  Provisions  failed,  too., 

[30] 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION 

and  some  meals  were  made  of  the  bark  and  twigs  of 
birch  trees  and  the  berries  of  the  juniper.  Through 
all  these  hardships  young  Ludington  led  his  com 
rades  safely  to  their  destination.  Then,  in  the  spring 
of  1760,  he  proceeded  from  Boston  to  Branford,  and 
thus  terminated  for  the  time  his  active  military 
career.  In  recognition  of  his  services  he  received 
from  King  George  II  the  commission  of  a  lieutenant 
in  the  British  Colonial  Army,  which  he  held  until,  in 
the  succeeding  reign,  news  came  of  the  enactment  of 
the  Stamp  Act,  when  he  resigned  it.  Later,  on  Feb 
ruary  13,  1773,  he  accepted  a  captain's  commission 
from  William  Tryon,  the  last  British  governor  of 
New  York,  which  he  held  until  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolution.  This  commission  was  in  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Beverly  Robinson,  that  eminent  Brit 
ish  Loyalist  who  was  the  intermediary  between  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  and  Benedict  Arnold.  It  was  at 
Robinson's  country  mansion  that  much  of  Arnold's 
plotting  was  done,  and  it  was  there,  while  at  dinner, 
that  the  traitor  received  the  news  of  the  failure  of  his 
treason  through  the  capture  of  his  agent,  Major 
Andre. 

One  other  incident  of  Henry  Ludington's  service 
demands  passing  attention.  In  one  of  the  returns  of 
his  regiment,  in  connection  with  the  fifteen  days'  ser 
vice  in  August,  1757,  he  is  recorded  as  "Deserted." 
Generally  speaking,  no  worse  blot  than  that  can  well 
be  put  upon  a  soldier's  record.  But  it  is  quite  ob 
vious  that  in  this  case  it  is  devoid  of  its  usual  serious 

C31] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

significance.  It  is  certain  that  he  did  not  actually 
desert  in  the  ordinary  present  meaning  of  that  term. 
This  we  know,  because  there  is  no  record  nor  intima 
tion  of  any  steps  ever  being  taken  to  punish  him  for 
what  would  have  been  regarded  as  a  heinous  crime; 
because  soon  after  that  entry  against  him  he  was 
serving  with  credit  in  the  army  and  continued  so  to 
do ;  because  thereafter  he  was  intrusted  with  the  im 
portant  march  to  Boston  which  has  been  described; 
and  because,  after  having  honorably  completed  his 
service  in  the  army,  he  received  a  royal  commission  as 
an  officer.  In  those  early  days,  when  an  army  was 
campaigning  in  an  almost  trackless  wilderness  and 
warfare  was  largely  of  the  most  irregular  description, 
it  was  not  difficult  for  a  soldier  to  become  detached 
and  practically  lost  from  the  rest  of  his  army,  and 
perhaps  not  be  able  to  rejoin  it  for  some  time.  Such 
a  mishap  might  the  more  easily  have  befallen  an  im 
petuous  and  adventurous  youth  such  as  Henry  Lud- 
ington  was.  And  of  course  the  record  "Deserted" 
might  naturally  enough  have  been  put  against  his 
name  when  he  failed  to  respond  to  roll-call  and  no 
explanation  of  his  absence  was  forthcoming. 

In  the  French  and  Indian  War  the  Colonial  troops 
were  paid  for  their  services  by  the  various  Colonial 
governments,  which  latter  were  afterward  reim 
bursed  for  such  expenditures  by  the  British  Govern 
ment.  It  was,  however,  with  a  view  to  compelling 
the  Colonies  to  bear  the  cost  of  the  war,  by  levying 
taxes  upon  them  at  the  will  of  Parliament,  that  the 


BEFORE   THE  REVOLUTION 

British  Government  entered  upon  the  fatal  policy 
which  a  few  years  later  cost  it  the  major  part  of  its 
American  possessions.  Because  of  that  change  of 
government,  no  pension  system  was  ever  created  for 
the  veterans  of  that  war.  In  1815,  however,  near  the 
close  of  Henry  Ludington's  life,  such  pensions  were 
proposed,  and  with  a  view  to  establishing  his  eligibil 
ity  to  receive  one,  in  the  absence  of  the  authoritative 
records  of  the  Connecticut  troops,  he  secured  from 
two  of  his  former  comrades  in  arms  the  following 
affidavits — here  reproduced  verbatim  et  literatim: 

State  of  New  York 
Putnam  County 

Jehoidah  Wheton,  of  the  town  of  Carmell  in 
said  county,  being  duly  sworn  doth  depose  and 
say  that  he  is  now  personally  acquainted  with 
Henry  Ludington,  who  lives  in  the  Town  of 
Fredericks  in  said  county  and  that  the  deponent 
has  known  him  for  many  years  past.  The  de 
ponent  knows  that  the  above  named  Henry  Lud 
ington  was  in  the  service  in  the  years  1756  and 
1757  under  the  King's  pay,  and  belonged  to  the 
State  troops  of  Connecticut,  and  that  the  de 
ponent  was  personally  acquainted  with  the  said 
Henry  Ludington  during  the  service  above 
stated,  and  the  deponent  was  with  him  the  two 
campaigns,  and  further  the  deponent  saith  that 
from  certain  information  which  he  the  deponent 
knows  to  be  true  from  the  above  named  Henry 
Ludington  of  certain  transactions  which  took 
place  in  the  year  1759  to  me  the  deponent  now 

[33] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

told  he  verrily  believes  that  the  said  Henry  Lud- 
ington  was  in  the  service  that  year,  and  that  the 
deponent  places  confidence  in  the  truth  and  verac 
ity  of  the  said  Henry  Ludington,  and  the  de 
ponent  saith  that  he  together  with  the  above 
named  Henry  Ludington  was  under  Capt.  Foot 
in  Colonel  Nathan  Whiting's  Ridgement  in  the 
service  aforesaid ;  and  further  this  deponent  saith 

not. 

his 

JEHOIDAH     X    WHEATON 
mark 

Sworn  and  subscribed  the  14th  day  of  September 
1815  before  me  John  Phillips,  one  of  the  masters 
in  the  cort  of  Chy.  in  and  for  sd.  State. 

I,  John  Byington,  of  Redding  in  Fairfield 
County  and  State  Connecticut,  of  lawful  age  de 
pose  and  say 

that  I  am  well  acquainted  with  Henry  Luding 
ton  of  Fredericks,  state  of  New  York,  that  he  en 
listed  under  the  King's  proclamation  and  served 
with  the  Connecticut  troops  in  the  war  with 
France,  three  campaigns,  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Foot,  under  whom  I  also  served;  that  he 
rendered  the  above  service  between  the  year  1756 
&  1764,  and  further  say  not. 

John  Byington. 

State  Connecticut,  County  Fairfield,  Ss.  Red 
ding  the  15th  day  of  September  1815  personally 
apperd  John  Byington  the  above  deponent  & 
made  oath  to  the  truth  of  the  above  deposition. 
LEMUEL  SANFORD,  Justice  Peace. 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

Both  of  the  foregoing  affidavits  or  depositions  are 
taken  from  copies  of  the  originals,  made  by  Lewis 
Ludington,  son  of  Henry  Ludington,  on  September 
19,  1815,  and  now  in  possession  of  Lewis  Luding- 
ton's  son. 

We  have  seen  that  Henry  Ludington,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one,  escorted  a  company  of  invalided  sol 
diers  from  Quebec  to  Boston  in  the  winter  of  1759- 
60,  and  thereafter  returned  to  civil  life.  One  of  his 
first  acts  was  to  get  married,  his  bride  being  his 
cousin,  Abigail  Ludington,  daughter  of  his  father's 
younger  brother,  Elisha  Ludington.  As  already 
noted,  Elisha  Ludington  upon  his  marriage  had  re 
moved  from  Connecticut  to  Dutchess  County,  New 
York,  and  had  settled  in  what  was  known  as  the 
Phillipse  Patent.  The  exact  date  of  that  migration 
is  not  recorded,  but  it  was  probably  some  years  be 
fore  the  French  and  Indian  war.  As  the  Connecticut 
troops  on  their  way  to  that  war  marched  across 
Dutchess  County,  through  Dover  and  Amenia,  it  is 
to  be  presumed  that  Henry  Ludington  on  that  mo 
mentous  journey  called  at  his  uncle's  home,  and  saw 
his  cousin,  afterward  to  be  his  wife,  who  had  been 
born  on  May  8,  1745,  and  was  at  that  time  conse 
quently  a  child  of  about  ten  years.  Whether  they 
met  again  until  his  return  from  Quebec  is  not  surely 
known,  but  we  may  easily  imagine  the  boy  soldier's 
carrying  with  him  into  the  northern  wilderness  an 
affectionate  memory  of  his  little  cousin,  perhaps  the 
last  of  his  kin  to  bid  him  good-by,  and  also  her  cher- 

CSS] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

ishing  a  romantic  regard  for  the  lad  whom  she  had 
seen  march  away  with  his  comrades.  At  any  rate, 
their  marriage  followed  close  upon  his  return,  taking 
place  on  May  1,  1760,  when  he  was  not  yet  quite 
twenty-one  and  she  just  under  fifteen.  Soon  after 
ward  the  young  couple,  apparently  accompanied  by 
the  rest  of  Henry  Ludington's  immediate  family,  re 
moved  to  Dutchess  County,  New  York,  to  be  there 
after  identified  with  that  historic  region. 

Dutchess  County  was  one  of  the  twelve  counties 
into  which  the  Province  of  New  York  was  divided 
on  November  1,  1683,  the  others  being  Albany, 
Cornwall  (now  a  part  of  the  State  of  Maine), 
Duke's  (now  a  part  of  Massachusetts) ,  King's,  New 
York,  Orange,  Queen's,  Richmond,  Suffolk,  Ulster, 
and  Westchester.  Dutchess  then  comprised  what  is 
now  Putnam  County,  which  was  set  off  as  a  separate 
county  in  1812  and  was  named  for  General  Israel 
Putnam,  who  was  in  command  of  the  forces  there 
during  much  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  1719 
Dutchess  County  was  divided  into  three  wards, 
known  as  Northern,  Middle,  and  Southern,  each  ex 
tending  from  the  Hudson  River  to  the  Connecticut 
line.  Again,  in  1737,  these  wards  were  subdivided 
into  seven  precincts,  called  Beekman,  Charlotte, 
Crom  Elbow,  North,  Poughkeepsie,  Rhinebeck,  and 
Southeast;  and  at  later  dates  other  precincts,  or 
towns,  were  formed,  to  wit:  North  East  in  1746; 
Amenia  in  1762;  Pawlings  in  1768;  and  Fredericks- 
town  in  1772.  Fishkill  and  Rombout  were  also  con- 

[36] 


It 


s  « 

...      13 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

stituted  in  colonial  times.  Frederickstown,  where 
the  Ludingtons  settled  and  with  which  we  have  most 
to  do,  was  a  part  of  the  Phillipse  Patent,  in  the 
Southern  Ward  of  Dutchess  County,  now  Putnam 
County.  It  derived  its  name  from  Frederick  Phil 
lipse,  a  kinsman  of  Adolphe  Phillipse,  the  patentee 
of  Phillipse  Manor  or  Patent.  It  has  now  been  di 
vided  and  renamed,  its  old  boundaries  comprising 
the  present  towns  of  Kent,  Carmel,  and  Patterson, 
and  a  part  of  Southeast,  the  present  village  of  Pat 
terson  occupying  the  site  of  the  former  Fredericks- 
burgh.  The  name  of  Kent  was  taken  from  the  family 
of  that  name,  of  which  James  Kent,  the  illustrious 
jurist  and  chancellor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was 
a  member.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  recall  at  this 
point,  also,  that  a  certain  strip  of  land  at  the  eastern 
side  of  Dutchess  County  was  in  dispute  between 
New  York  and  Connecticut.  This  was  known  as 
The  Oblong,  or  the  Oblong  Patent,  from  its  config 
uration,  and  comprised  61,440  acres,  in  a  strip  about 
two  miles  wide,  now  forming  parts  of  Dutchess,  Put 
nam,  and  Westchester  counties  and  including  part 
of  the  Westchester  town  of  Bedford,  and  also  Quaker 
Hill,  near  Pawling,  in  Dutchess  County,  which  was 
once  suggested  as  the  capital  of  the  State,  and  which 
gets  its  name  from  having  been  first  settled  by  Quak 
ers.  The  dispute  over  the  New  York- Connecticut 
boundary  and  the  consequent  ownership  of  this  land 
arose  before  1650,  when  the  Dutch  were  still  owners 
of  New  York,  or  New  Netherlands  as  the  latter  was 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

then  called,  and  it  was  continued  between  the  two 
Colonies  when  they  were  both  under  British  rule. 
The  settlement  was  effected  by  confirming  New 
York  in  possession  of  The  Oblong,  and  granting  to 
Connecticut  in  return  a  tract  of  land  on  Long  Island 
Sound,  eight  miles  by  twelve  in  extent,  which  was 
long  called  the  "Equivalent  Land,"  and  which  is  now 
occupied  by  Greenwich,  Stamford,  and  other  towns. 
The  final  demarcation  of  the  boundary  was  not,  how 
ever,  effected  until  as  late  as  1880. 

The  precise  date  of  Henry  Ludington's  settlement 
in  Dutchess  County  is  not  now  known.  Neither  his 
nor  his  father's  name  appears  in  the  1762  survey  of 
Lot  No.  6  of  the  Phillipse  Patent,  and  it  has  been  as 
sumed  that  therefore  his  arrival  there  must  have  been 
at  a  later  date  than  that.  This  reasoning  must,  how 
ever,  be  challenged  on  the  ground  that — as  we  shall 
presently  see— on  March  12,  1763,  he  was  officially 
recorded  as  a  sub-sheriff  of  Dutchess  County.  It  is 
scarcely  likely  that  he  would  have  been  appointed  to 
that  office  immediately  upon  his  arrival  in  the  county, 
and  we  must  therefore  conclude  that  he  settled  there 
at  least  early  in  1762,  if  not  before  that  year.  He 
made  his  home  on  a  tract  of  229  acres  of  land  in 
Frederickstown,  at  the  north  end  of  Lot  No.  6  of  the 
Phillipse  Patent,  on  the  site  of  what  was  afterward 
appropriately,  though  with  awkward  etymology, 
called  Ludingtonville.  This  land  he  was  not  able  to 
purchase  outright,  but  leased  for  many  years  from 
owners  who  clung  to  the  old  feudal  notions  of  tenure ; 

[38] 


w 

rt     . 

a    CD      ^ 
mS 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

but  at  last,  on  July  15,  1812,  he  effected  actual  pur 
chase  and  received  title  deeds  from  Samuel  Gouver- 
neur  and  his  wife.  On  that  property  he  built  the  first 
grist-  and  saw-mills  in  that  region,  there  being  no 
others  nearer  than  the  "Red  Mills"  at  Lake  Mahopac 
and  those  built  by  John  Jay  on  the  Cross  River,  in 
the  town  of  Bedford,  Westchester  County — which 
latter,  by  the  way,  remained  in  continuous  operation, 
with  much  of  the  original  framework  and  sheathing, 
until  1906,  when  they  were  destroyed  to  make  room 
for  one  of  the  Croton  reservoirs.  Ludington's  mills 
were  of  course  operated  by  water  power,  generated 
by  a  huge  "overshot"  wheel,  supplied  with  water  con 
veyed  from  a  neighboring  stream  in  a  channel  or 
mill-race  made  of  timber. 

Near-by  stood  the  house,  which  was  several  times 
enlarged.  The  main  building  was  two  stories  in 
height,  with  an  attic  above.  Through  the  center  ran 
a  broad  hall,  with  a  stairway  broken  with  a  landing 
and  turn.  At  one  side  was  a  parlor  and  at  the  other  a 
sitting  or  living  room,  and  back  of  each  of  these  was 
a  bedroom.  The  parlor  was  wainscoted  and  ceiled 
with  planks  of  the  fragrant  and  beautiful  red  cedar. 
Beyond  the  sitting  room,  at  the  side  of  this  main 
building,  was  the  "weaving  room,"  an  apartment  un 
known  to  our  modern  domestic  economy,  but  essen 
tial  in  colonial  days.  It  was  a  large  room,  fitted  with 
a  hand-loom,  and  a  number  of  spinning  wheels, 
reels,  swifts,  and  the  other  paraphernalia  for  the 
manufacture  of  homespun  fabrics  of  different  kinds. 

C39] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

This  room  also  contained  a  huge  stone  fireplace. 
Beyond  it,  at  the  extreme  east  of  the  house,  was  the 
kitchen,  with  its  great  fireplace  and  brick  or  stone 
oven.  The  house  fronted  toward  the  south,  and  com 
manded  a  fine  outlook  over  one  of  the  picturesque 
landscapes  for  which  that  region  is  famed.  Years 
ago  the  original  house  was  demolished,  and  a  new 
one  was  built  on  the  same  site  by  a  grandson,  George 
Ludington.  The  location  was  a  somewhat  isolated 
one,  neighbors  being  few  and  not  near,  and  the  near 
est  village,  Fredericksburgh,  on  the  present  site  of 
Patterson,  being  some  miles  distant.  The  location 
was,  however,  important,  being  on  the  principal  route 
from  Northern  Connecticut  to  the  lower  Hudson 
Valley,  the  road  leading  from  Hartford  and  New 
Milf ord,  Connecticut,  through  Fredericksburgh,  past 
Colonel  Ludington's,  to  Fishkill  and  West  Point— 
a  circumstance  which  was  of  much  interest  and  im 
portance  to  Colonel  Ludington  in  the  Revolution,  as 
we  shall  see.  The  population  of  the  county  at  that 
time  was  small  and  scattered.  In  1746,  or  about  the 
time  when  Elisha  Ludington  went  thither  and  Abi 
gail  Ludington  was  born,  the  census  showed  a  popu 
lation  of  8,806,  including  500  negro  slaves.  By  1749 
the  numbers  had  actually  diminished  to  7,912,  of 
whom  only  421  were  negroes.  In  1756,  however, 
there  were  14,148  inhabitants,  including  859  negroes, 
and  Dutchess  was  the  most  populous  county  in  the 
colony,  excepting  Albany,  which  had  17,424  inhabi 
tants.  The  county  was  at  that  time  able  to  contribute 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

to  the  army  about  2,500  men.  It  had  enjoyed  ex 
emption  from  the  Indian  wars  which  had  ravaged 
other  parts  of  the  colony,  and  its  situation  and  nat 
ural  resources  gave  it  the  advantages  of  varied  in 
dustries.  It  had  the  Hudson  River  at  one  side  for 
commerce,  it  was  well  watered  and  wooded,  its  open 
fields  were  exceptionally  fertile,  it  had  abundant 
water-power  for  mills,  and  it  had — though  this  was 
not  realized  until  after  the  colonial  period — much 
mineral  wealth. 

Such  was  the  community  in  which  Henry  Luding- 
ton  established  himself  at  the  beginning  of  his  man 
hood  and  married  life,  and  in  which  he  quickly  rose  to 
prominence.  The  extent  of  his  holdings  of  land,  and 
the  fact  of  his  proprietorship  of  important  mills, 
made  him  a  leading  factor  in  business  affairs,  while 
his  bent  for  public  business  soon  led  him  into  both 
the  civil  and  the  military  service.  At  that  time,  from 
1761  to  1769,  James  Livingston  was  sheriff  of 
Dutchess  County,  and  early  in  1763  Henry  Luding- 
ton  became  one  of  his  lieutenants,  as  sub-sheriff.  The 
Protestant  dynasty  in  England  was  so  newly  estab 
lished  that  elaborate  oaths  of  abjuration  and  fealty 
were  still  required  of  all  office-holders,  of  whatever 
rank  or  capacity,  and  on  March  12,  1763,  Henry 
Ludington,  as  sub-sheriff,  took  and  subscribed  to 
them,  as  follows: 

I,  Henry  Ludington,  Do  Solemnly  and  Sin 
cerely,  in  the  Presence  of  God,  Profess,  Testify, 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

and  Declare,  That  I  do  Believe,  that  in  the  Sacra- 
ment  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  there  is  not  any 
Transubstantiation,  of  the  Elements  of  Bread 
and  Wine,  in  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ  at  or 
after  the  Consecration  Thereof,  by  any  Person 
whatsoever.  And  that  the  Invocation,  or  Adora 
tion,  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  or  Any  other  Saint,  and 
the  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  as  they  are  now  Used 
in  the  Church  of  Rome,  are  Superstitious  and 
Idolatrous,  and  I  do  Solemnly  in  the  presence  of 
God,  Profess,  Testify,  and  Declare,  that  I  make 
this  Declaration,  and  Every  Part  thereof,  in  the 
plain  and  Ordinary  Sence  of  the  Words  read  to 
me,  as  they  are  Commonly  Understood  by  Eng 
lish  Protestants,  Without  any  Evasion,  Equivoca 
tion,  or  Mental  Reservation  whatsoever,  and  With 
out  any  Dispensation  Already  Granted  to  me  for 
this  purpose  by  the  Pope,  or  any  other  Authority 
Whatsoever,  or  Without  Thinking  that  I  am  Ac 
quitted,  before  God  or  Man,  or  Absolved  of  this 
Declaration,  or  any  Part  thereof,  Although  the 
Pope,  or  any  Person  or  Persons,  or  Power  What 
soever,  Should  Dispence  with  or  Annul  the  same 
and  Declare  that  it  was  Null  or  Void,  from  the 
Beginning. 

I,  Henry  Ludington,  do  Sincerely  Promise  & 
Swear,  that  I  will  be  faithful  and  bear  true  Al 
legiance  to  his  Majesty  King  George  the  Third, 
and  I  do  Swear  that  I  do  from  my  heart  Abhor, 
Detest,  and  Abjure,  as  Impious  and  Heretical, 
that  Damnable  Doctrine  and  Position,  that 
Princes  Excommunicated  and  Deprived  by  the 
Pope,  or  Any  Authority  of  the  See  of  Rome, 
May  Be  Deposed  by  Their  Subjects  or  any  other 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

Whatsoever,  and  I  do  Declare  that  no  Foreign 
Prince,  Person,  Prelate,  State  or  Potentate  hath 
or  ought  to  have,  any  Jurisdiction,  Power,  Supe 
riority,  Pre-eminence,  or  Authority  Ecclesiastical 
or  Spiritual,  Within  this  Realm,  and  I  do  Truly 
and  Sincerely  acknowledge  and  profess,  Testify 
and  Declare,  in  my  conscience  before  God  and 
the  World,  That  Our  Sovereign  Lord  King 
George  the  Third  of  this  Realm,  and  all  other 
Dominions  and  Countrys  Thereunto  Belonging, 
and  I  do  Solemnly  and  Sincerely  Declare,  that  I 
do  believe  in  my  conscience  that  the  person  pre 
tended  to  be  Prince  of  Wales  During  the  Life  of 
the  Late  King  James  the  Second,  and  since  his 
Decease,  Pretending  to  be  and  Taking  upon  him 
self  the  Stile  and  Title  of  King  of  England,  by 
the  Name  of  James  the  Third,  or  of  Scotland  by 
the  name  of  James  the  Eighth,  or  Stile  and  Title 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  hath  not  any  right 
or  Title  whatsoever,  to  the  Crown  of  this  Realm, 
or  any  other  Dominions  Thereunto  Belonging, 
and  I  do  Renounce,  Refuse,  and  Abjure,  any  Al 
legiance  or  Obedience  to  him,  and  I  do  Swear, 
that  I  will  bear  Faith,  and  True  Allegiance  to  his 
Majesty  King  George  the  Third  and  him  will 
defend,  to  the  utmost  of  my  Power,  against  all 
Traiterous  Conspiracies  and  Attempts  Whatso 
ever,  which  shall  be  made  Against  his  Person, 
Crown  or  Dignity,  and  I  will  do  my  Utmost  En 
deavors  to  Disclose  and  Make  Known  to  his 
Majesty  and  his  Successors  all  Treasons  and 
Traiterous  Conspiracies  which  I  shall  know  to  be 
against  him,  or  any  of  them,  and  I  faithfully 
promise  to  the  Utmost  of  my  Power  to  Support, 
Maintain  and  Defend  the  Successors  of  the 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Crown  against  him  the  said  James  and  all  other 
Persons  Whatsoever,  Which  Succession  by  an 
Act  entitled  An  Act  for  the  further  Limitation 
of  the  Crown  Limited  to  the  Late  Princess 
Sophia,  Electress  and  Dowager  of  Hanover,  and 
the  Heirs  of  Her  Body,  being  Protestants,  and 
all  these  things  I  do  plainly  and  Sincerely  Ac 
knowledge  and  Swear  according  to  the  Express 
words  by  me  spoken  and  according  to  the  Plain 
and  Common  Sence  and  Understanding  of  the 
same  Words  Without  any  Equivocation,  Mental 
Evasion,  or  Sinister  Reservation  Whatsoever, 
and  I  do  make  this  Recognition,  Acknowledge 
ment,  Abjuration,  Renunciation  and  Promise 
heartily,  Willingly  and  Truly,  upon  the  True 
Faith  of  a  Christian.  So  help  me,  God! 

Thus  qualified  by  the  taking  of  these  oaths,  Henry 
Ludington  began  public  services  which  lasted,  in  one 
capacity  and  another,  for  more  than  a  generation  in 
the  Colony  and  State  of  New  York.  The  first  entry 
in  his  ledger  bears  date  of  "May,  A.D.  1763,"  and 
runs  as  follows:  "James  Livingston  Sheriff  Dr  to 
Serving  county  writs  (seven  in  number)  the  price 
for  serving  each  writ  being  from  lls.  9d.  to  <£l — 
10—9."  There  follow,  under  dates  of  October,  1763, 
and  May,  1764,  entries  for  serving  other  writs. 
Among  the  names  of  attorneys  in  the  suits  appear 
those  of  Cromwell,  Livingston,  Jones,  Snedeker, 
Ludlow,  Snook,  and  Kent ;  and  among  those  of  par 
ties  to  suits,  etc.,  are  those  of  Joseph  Weeks,  Jacob 
Ellis,  Uriah  Hill,  Jacob  Griffen,  George  Hughson, 


BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTION 

Ebenezer  Bennett,  and  Joseph  Crane.  In  1764  first 
appears  the  name  of  Beverly  Robinson,  as  the  plain 
tiff  in  a  suit  against  one  Nathan  Birdsall.  There  is 
also  mention  of  a  suit  brought  in  the  name  of  the 
"Earl  of  Starling"  as  plaintiff  before  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  colony — probably  William  Alexander, 
or  Lord  Stirling,  the  patriot  soldier  of  the  Revolu 
tion. 

At  this  home  in  Frederickstown  the  children  of 
Henry  and  Abigail  Ludington,  or  all  of  them  but 
the  eldest,  were  born.  These  children,  with  the  dates 
of  their  births,  were  as  follows,  as  recorded  by  Henry 
Ludington  in  his  Family  Register,  which  was  in 
scribed  on  a  fly-leaf  of  the  ledger  already  quoted : 

Sibyl,  April  5,  1761. 

Rebecca,  January  24,  1763. 

Mary,  July  31,  1765. 

Archibald,  July  5, 1767. 

Henry,  March  28,  1769. 

Derick,  February  17, 1771. 

Tertullus,  Monday  night,  April  19, 1773. 

Abigail,  Monday  morning,  February  26,  1776. 

Anne,  at  sunset,  March  14,  1778. 

Frederick,  June  10,  1782. 

Sophia,  May  16, 1784. 

Lewis,  June  25,  1786. 

Of  these  it  is  further  recorded  in  the  same  register 
that  Sibyl  was  married  to  Edward  Ogden  (the  name 
is  elsewhere  given  as  Edmund  or  Henry  Ogden)  on 

[45] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

October  21,  1784;  that  Mary  was  married  to  David 
Travis  on  September  12,  1785;  that  Archibald  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  -  —  on  September  23,  1790; 
and  that  Rebecca  was  married  to  Harry  Pratt  on 
May  7, 1794. 


[463 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 

IN  order  justly  to  appreciate  the  circumstances  in 
which  Henry  Ludington  and  his  young  family 
found  themselves  about  fifteen  years  after  his  return 
from  the  French  and  Indian  war,  it  will  be  desirable 
to  recall  briefly  the  political  and  social  conditions 
generally  prevailing  throughout  the  Colonies  at  that 
time,  which  were  nowhere  more  marked  than  in  New 
York  City  and  the  rural  counties  lying  just  north  of 
it.  During  the  two  or  three  years  before  the  actual 
declaration  of  American  independence,  or  secession 
from  England,  the  people  of  the  Colonies  were  di 
vided  into  two  parties,  the  Patriots  and  the  Loyalists 
or  Tories.  The  latter  maintained  the  right  of  Eng 
land  to  govern  the  Colonies  as  she  pleased,  and  re 
garded  even  a  protest  against  the  maladministration 
of  George  Ill's  ministers  as  little  short  of  sacrilege. 
The  former  were  by  no  means  as  yet  committed  to  the 
idea  of  American  separation  from  the  mother  coun 
try,  but  they  were  most  resolute  in  their  demand  for 
local  self-government,  and  for  government  according 
to  the  needs  of  the  Colonies  rather  than  the  caprices 
of  English  ministers.  When  they  first  placed  the 
legend  "Liberty  and  Union"  upon  their  colonial  flag, 
and  called  it  the  "Grand  Union  Flag,"  they  had  in 

C47] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

mind  liberty  under  the  British  constitution  and  con 
tinued  union  with  England.  Nevertheless,  antago 
nism  between  the  two  parties  became  as  bitter  as  ever 
it  was  between  Roundhead  and  Cavalier  in  Stuart 
days;  and  while  in  some  respects  Boston  and  Phila 
delphia  figured  more  conspicuously  in  the  pre-revolu- 
tionary  agitation  and  operations  than  did  New  York, 
there  was  probably  no  place  in  all  the  Colonies  where 
the  people  were  more  evenly  and  generally  divided 
between  the  two  parties,  or  where  passions  rose  higher 
or  were  more  strongly  maintained,  than  in  and  about 
the  last-named  city.  No  ties  of  neighborliness,  friend 
ship,  or  even  family  relationship  sufficed  to  prevent  or 
to  quell  the  animosities  which  arose  over  the  political 
interests  of  the  Colonies.  Nowhere  had  the  Patriots  a 
more  ardent  or  persuasive  leader  than  young  Alex 
ander  Hamilton,  or  the  Tories  a  more  uncompromis 
ing  champion  than  Rivington,  the  printer,  whose  of 
fice  was  at  last  sacked  and  gutted  by  wrathful  Pa 
triots.  An  illuminating  side-light  is  thrown  upon 
the  New  York  state  of  mind  by  an  item  in  the  New 
York  "Journal"  of  February  9,  1775,  as  follows: 

A  company  of  gentlemen  were  dining  at  a 
house  in  New  York.  One  of  them  used  the  word 
Tory  several  times.  His  host  asked  him,  "Pray, 
Mr.-  -,  what  is  a  Tory?"  He  replied,  "A  Tory 
is  a  thing  whose  head  is  in  England,  and  its  body 
in  America,  and  its  neck  ought  to  be  stretched!" 

Nor  were  these  passions  by  any  means  confined  to 
the  urban  but  not  always  urbane  community  on 

[483 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE   REVOLUTION 

Manhattan  Island.    They  prevailed  with  equal  force 
in  the  rural  regions  of  Westchester  and  Dutchess 
counties.    During  the  Revolutionary  War  that  bor 
der  region,  between  the  British  garrison  on  Manhat 
tan  Island  and  the  American  strongholds  in  the 
Highlands  of  the  Hudson,  was  the  fighting  ground 
of  the  belligerents,  and  was  also  unmercifully  harried 
and  ravaged  by  the  irregular  succors  of  both  sides, 
the  "Cow  Boys"  and  "Skinners,"  and  others,  cele 
brated  in  the  unhappy  Andre's  whimsical  ballad  of 
"The    Cow    Chase."      Patriots    from    Westchester 
County  were  foremost  among  those  who  wrecked 
Kivington's  Tory  printing  shop,  and  an  aggravated 
sequel  to  the  item  just  cited  from  the  New  York 
"Journal"  is  provided  in  the  annals  of  Dutchess 
County  a  little  later  in  the  same  year.    At  that  time 
a  County  Committee,  or  Committee  of  Safety— of 
which  we  shall  presently  hear  much  more— had  been 
formed  in  that  county,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the 
Tories  in  check,  and  it  had  forcibly  deprived  some 
men  of  their  arms  and  ammunition.     The  despoiled 
Tories  made  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
for  redress,  and  James  Smith,  a  justice  of  that  court, 
according  to  a  contemporary  narrative,  "undertook  to 
sue  for  and  recover  the  arms  taken  from  the  Tories 
by  order  of  said  committee,  and  actually  committed 
one  of  the  committee  who  assisted  at  disarming  the 
Tories ;  which  enraged  the  people  so  much  that  they 
rose  and  rescued  the  prisoner,  and  poured  out  their 
resentment  on  this  villanous  retailer  of  the  law."  The 

[49: 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

"resentment"  seems  to  have  been  poured  out  of  buck 
ets  and  pillows,  for  we  are  told  that  Justice  Smith 
and  his  relative,  Coen  Smith,  were  "very  handsomely 
tarred  and  feathered,  for  acting  in  open  contempt  of 
the  resolves  of  the  County  Committee!" 

In  or  near  that  part  of  Dutchess  County  in  which 
Henry  Ludington  lived  a  third  small  but  not  insig 
nificant  factor  was  involved  in  the  problem.  This 
was  provided  by  the  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  who  were  settled  at  Quaker  Hill,  near 
Pawling,  in  The  Oblong.  This  was  the  first  com 
munity  in  America  to  abolish  negro  slavery,  in  1775, 
and  on  that  account  it  was  probably  regarded  with 
some  suspicion.  But  worse  still  was  the  regard  given 
to  it  in  the  strife  between  Patriots  and  Tories.  There 
can  be  little  doubt  that  the  sentiments  and  wishes  of 
the  Quakers  were  largely  with  the  Patriots.  Yet 
their  religious  principle  of  non-resistance  forbade 
them  to  take  up  arms  or  to  engage  in  forcible  conflict 
of  any  kind.  They  were  therefore  generally  looked 
upon  by  the  Patriots  as  Tories,  and  were  on  that  ac 
count  sometimes  fined  and  otherwise  punished,  while 
on  the  other  hand,  the  Tories  made  themselves  free  to 
quarter  troops  upon  them  and  to  demand  aid  of  them 
at  will.  On  the  whole,  however,  they  appear  to  have 
commanded  the  respect  of  the  Patriots,  for  their  sin 
cerity,  and  thus  to  have  been  far  more  leniently 
dealt  with  than  were  the  more  militant  Tories  outside 
the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  earliest  organization  of  the  Patriots  in  and 

C50] 


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THE   BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

about  New  York  was  a  Committee  of  Vigilance,  the 
chief  functions  of  which  were  to  watch  for  oppressive 
acts  of  the  British  Government  and  incite  colonial 
protests  against  them.  This  was  in  1774  superseded 
by  a  Committee  of  Fifty-One,  and  it  in  turn  in  the 
same  year  gave  place  to  a  Committee  of  Inspection, 
of  sixty  members.  In  both  of  these  latter  John  Jay, 
who  was  a  neighbor  and  friend  of  Henry  Ludington, 
was  conspicuous,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  Henry 
Ludington  himself  was  either  a  member  of  the  com 
mittees  or  at  least  was  in  active  sympathy  with  their 
work.  In  April,  1775,  came  a  crisis  and  the  turning 
point  in  the  movement  for  independence.  The  old 
Colonial  Assembly  of  New  York  went  out  of  exist 
ence  on  April  3.  Then  came  the  news  of  the  first 
clash  of  arms  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  acting  as  a 
spark  in  a  powder-magazine.  "Astonished  by  ac 
counts  of  acts  of  hostility  in  the  moment  of  expecta 
tion  of  terms  of  reconciliation,"  said  the  lieutenant- 
governor  of  New  York  in  his  account  of  the  occur 
rence,  "and  now  filled  with  distrust,  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  burst  through  all  restraint  on  the  arrival  of 
the  intelligence  from  Boston,  and  instantly  emptied 
the  vessels  laden  with  provisions  for  that  place,  and 
then  seized  the  city  arms  and  in  the  course  of  a  few 
days  distributed  them  among  the  multitude,  formed 
themselves  into  companies  and  trained  openly  in  the 
streets ;  increased  the  number  and  power  of  the  com 
mittee  before  appointed  to  execute  the  association  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  convened  themselves  by 

C51] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

beat  of  the  drum  for  popular  resolutions,  have  taken 
the  keys  of  the  custom  house  by  military  force;  shut 
up  the  port,  drawn  a  small  number  of  cannon  into  the 
country;  called  all  parts  of  the  country  to  a  Pro 
vincial  Convention ;  chosen  twenty  delegates  for  this 
city,  formed  an  association  now  signing  by  all  ranks, 
engaging  submission  to  committees  and  congresses, 
in  firm  union  with  the  rest  of  the  continent,  and 
openly  avow  a  resolution  not  only  to  resist  the  acts  of 
Parliament  complained  as  grievances,  but  to  with 
hold  succors  of  all  kinds  from  the  troops  and  to  repel 
every  species  of  force,  wherever  it  may  be  exerted, 
for  enforcing  the  taxing  claims  of  Parliament  at  the 
risk  of  their  lives  and  fortunes."  This  only  half  co 
herent  but  wholly  intelligible  and  graphic  narrative 
tells  admirably  how  the  Patriot  sentiment  of  New 
York  startled  into  life  and  action.  A  year  later  it 
was  forcibly  repressed  by  the  British  garrison  on 
Manhattan  Island,  but  in  the  counties  at  the  north  it 
continued  dominant  and  triumphant. 

The  "association  now  signing  by  all  ranks"  was 
promptly  entered  into  by  Henry  Ludington  and  his 
neighbors  in  Dutchess  County,  as  the  following 
transcript,  from  the  MS.  collection  of  Mr.  Patrick, 
shows,  the  date  of  the  original  being  April  29, 1775 : 

A  General  Association  agreed  to  and  sub 
scribed  by  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
County  of  Dutchess : 

Persuaded:  That  the  Salvation  of  the  Rights  & 
liberties  of  America  depends,  under  God,  on  the 
[52] 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE   REVOLUTION 

firm  Union  of  its  Inhabitants  in  a  Vigorous  Pro 
secution  of  the  Measures  necessary  for  its  Safety; 
and  Convinced  of  the  Necessity  of  preventing  the 
Anarchy  &  Confusion  which  attend  the  Dissolu 
tion  of  the  Powers  of  Government,  We,  the  Free 
holders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Dut- 
chess,  being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed 
Design  of  the  Ministry  to  raise  a  Revenue  in 
America,  and  shocked  by  the  bloody  Scene  now 
acting  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  Do,  in  the  most 
solemn  Manner,  Resolve,  never  to  become  Slaves ; 
and  do  associate  under  all  the  Ties  of  Religion, 
Honour  and  Love  to  our  Country,  to  adopt  and 
endeavor  to  carry  into  execution,  whatever  Meas 
ures  may  be  recommended  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  or  resolved  upon  by  our  Provincial 
Conventions,  for  the  Purpose  of  preserving  our 
Constitution  and  opposing  the  execution  of  the 
several  arbitrary  and  oppressive  Acts  of  the  Brit 
ish  Parliament,  until  a  Reconciliation  between 
Great  Britain  and  America,  on  Constitutional 
Principles  (which  we  most  ardently  desire)  can 
be  obtained :  And  that  we  will  in  all  things,  follow 
the  Advice  of  our  General  Committee,  respecting 
the  Purposes  aforesaid :  the  Preservation  of  peace 
and  good  Order  and  the  Safety  of  Individuals, 
and  private  property. 

Mathew  Paterson  Malcolm  Morison 

Joseph  Chandler  Alexr.  Kidd 

Comfort  Ludinton  Henry  Ludinton 

Ruben  Miers  Elijah  Oakley 

James  Dickinson  Junr.  William  alkin. 

Isaiah  Bennett  David  Atkins 

Stephen  Baxter. 

[53] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

One  other  signature  is  illegible.  Those  of  the  two 
Ludingtons  are  clear  and  firm. 

The  new  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  met  in 
the  New  York  City  Hall  on  May  22,  1775,  and  re 
mained  in  session  until  May  29,  its  most  important 
act  being  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  hereby  is  recom 
mended  to  all  counties  in  this  colony  (who  have 
not  already  done  it)  to  appoint  County  Commit 
tees  and  also  sub-committees  for  their  respective 
townships  and  districts  without  delay,  in  order  to 
carry  into  execution  the  resolutions  of  the  Con 
tinental  and  this  Provincial  Congress ;  And  that 
it  is  also  recommended  to  every  inhabitant  of  this 
colony  who  has  neglected  to  sign  the  general  asso 
ciation  to  do  it  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  for 
this  purpose  that  the  committees  in  the  respective 
counties  do  tender  the  said  association  to  every  in 
habitant  within  the  several  districts  in  each  coun 
ty;  And  that  the  said  committees  and  persons 
respectfully  do  return  the  said  associations  and 
the  names  of  those  who  shall  refuse  to  sign  the 
same  to  this  Congress  by  the  15th  day  of  June 
next,  or  sooner  if  possible. 

This  obviously  "meant  business."  It  compelled 
every  inhabitant  of  the  colony  to  align  himself,  either 
with  the  Patriots  or  with  the  Loyalists;  with  a  cer 
tainty  that  if  he  chose  the  former,  he  would  be  held  as 
a  traitor  by  the  British  Government,  and  if  he  chose 
the  latter,  he  would  be  subject  to  whatever  pains  and 
penalties  his  incensed  Patriot  neighbors  might  see 

[54] 


THE  BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

iit  to  impose  upon  him.  Into  the  work  thus  recom 
mended  by  the  Congress,  Henry  Ludington  entered 
with  zeal  and  ardor.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  local 
committee,  in  Fredericksburgh  Precinct,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Dutchess  County  Committee,  among 
his  colleagues  being  John  Jay,  William  Duer,  Jac 
obus  Swartwout,  and  other  eminent  Patriots. 

How  vigorously  and  unsparingly  these  committees 
went  to  work  will  appear  if  we  anticipate  for  a 
moment  the  chronological  record  by  a  year.  On  a 
motion  offered  by  John  Jay  on  June  16,  1776,  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  declared  guilty  of 
treason,  with  the  penalty  of  death,  all  persons  inhab 
iting  or  passing  through  the  colony,  or  state,  as  it 
then  began  to  be  called,  who  should  give  aid  or  com 
fort  to  the  enemy.  A  week  later  the  Continental 
Congress  adopted  a  similar  resolution.  It  does  not 
appear  that  this  penalty  was  ever  actually  imposed, 
but  the  terror  of  it  was  held  as  a  powerful  measure  of 
restraint  over  the  Tories.  Again,  at  Conner's  tavern, 
at  Fishkill,  Dutchess  County,  on  October  8,  1776, 
there  was  organized  a  secret  committee  "for  inquir 
ing  into,  detecting  and  defeating  conspiracies  .  .  . 
against  the  liberties  of  America,"  with  full  power  to 
send  for  persons  and  papers,  call  out  the  militia,  and 
arrest  or  expel  persons  regarded  as  dangerous  to 
the  state,  apparently  without  any  judicial  process. 
Thereafter  numerous  parties  of  suspects  were  sent  in 
by  the  various  local  committees,  including  men, 
women,  and  children.  All  who  consented  to  sign  an 

[55] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

oath  of  allegiance  to  Congress  were  dismissed.  The 
others  were  variously  dealt  with.  Some  were  exiled 
from  the  State,  some  were  imprisoned,  and  some  re 
leased  on  parole,  to  remain  near  Fishkill  within  call 
and  surveillance  of  the  committee.  The  chairman  of 
this  committee  was  William  Duer,  and  if  Henry 
Ludington  was  not  actually  among  its  members  he 
was  certainly  one  of  its  most  trusted  and  efficient 
agents.  It  continued  in  existence  and  action  until 
February  27,  1777,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the 
State  Convention  and  was  replaced  by  a  Board  of 
Commissioners.  Two  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of 
this  committee  will  serve  the  double  purpose  of  show 
ing  the  character  of  its  activities  and  the  part  which 
Henry  Ludington  played  in  executing  its  decrees. 
The  first  is  dated  only  four  days  after  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  committee : 

In  Committee  appointed  by  a  Resolution  of 
the  Convention  of  the  State  of  New  York  for  en 
quiring  into,  detecting  and  defeating  all  Conspir 
acies  which  may  be  form'd  in  the  said  State 
against  the  Liberties  of  America.  Fish  Kill 
Octr.  12. 1776. 

This  Committee  taking  into  Consideration 
Coll.  Ludington's  Letter  respecting  Thomas 
Menzes  Esqr.  received  yesterday- 
Ordered  that  Coll.  Ludington  carry  into  Exe 
cution  the  former  Orders  of  this  Committee  re 
specting  Thomas  Menzes  Esqr.  in  such  manner 
as  to  him  shall  appear  most  prudent.— 

Ordered  that  the  Secretary  transmit  to  ColL 

[563 


«,  *?   Vtrrrm/  effl 


& 


Reduced  Fac-similf=  of  Letter,  from  Committee  on  Conspiracies, 
to  Col.  Henry  Ludingtnn. 

(Original  in  posseRsion  of  Charles  H.  Lxidington.  New  York  City  ) 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE   REVOLUTION 

Ludington  by  Express  a  Copy  of  the  above 
Order. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes, 

A.  W.  D.  PEYSTER  Secry. 

The  second  is  dated  eight  days  later : 

warrant  from  commit e  to  aprhend  sundry  per 
sons 

In  Committee  of  the  Convention  of  the  State 
of  New  York  appointed  for  enquiring  into,  de 
tecting  and  defeating  all  Conspiracies  which  may 
be  form'd  in  the  said  State  against  the  Liberties 
of  America.  Fish  Kill  Octr.  20,  1776. 

Whereas  this  Committee  did  on  the  17th  inst. 
resolve  that  the  following  persons,  Inhabitants 
of  South  East  and  Frederick  Precincts  in  the 
County  of  Dutchess,  should  forthwith  be  dis- 
arm'd  apprehended  and  secured,  to  witt,  Uriah 
Townsend,  Ebenezer  Rider,  Charles  Cullen*, 
Barns  Hatfield,  Uriah  Wright,  Joseph  Hitch 
cock,  Eli  Crosby,  Dr.  Daniel  Bull*,  Charles 
Theal,  and  Gilbert  Dickeson — o 

Ordered  that  Coll.  Luddington  do  forthwith 
apprehend  and  bring  before  this  Committee  the 
above  mentioned  Persons  and  that  he  secure  the 
Papers  of  such  whose  Names  are  mark'd  with  an 
Asterisk  in  order  that  the  same  be  examined  by 
this  Committee.— 

Ordered  that  Capt.  Clarke  detach  Leut. 
Haight  with  a  Party  of  15  Men,  to  repair  to  Coll. 
Luddington  and  to  follow  such  orders  as  they 
may  receive  from  him. 

Signed  by  Order  of  the  Committee, 

WM.  DUER  Chairman. 
C57] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

In  the  margin  of  this  warrant,  which  is  here  copied 
from  the  original  in  the  possession  of  Charles  H. 
Ludington,  are  these  additional  names : 

oDaniel  Babbit  Jeremiah  Birch  Junr.  David 
Nash  Samuel  Towner  William  Merrit  Thomas 
Carl*  Daniel  Brundage  Moses  Fowler. 

The  Charles  Cullen  mentioned  in  the  warrant  was 
a  brother-in-law  of  the  distinguished  jurist,  Chancel 
lor  Kent. 

In  order  to  understand  clearly  the  geographical 
scope  of  the  operations  already  and  hereafter  cred 
ited  to  Henry  Ludington,  the  division  of  that  part 
of  Dutchess  County  into  precincts  should  here  be 
explained,  with  the  aid  of  a  map.  The  reference  is 
to  that  southern  part  of  Dutchess  County  which  was 
afterward  set  off,  as  at  present,  into  Putnam  County. 
From  1737  down  to  March  24, 1772,  it  was  known  as 
the  South  Precinct.  On  the  latter  date  it  was  divided 
into  three  longitudinal  strips,  that  along  the  Hudson 
being  called  Phillipse,  or  Philipsburgh  Precinct ;  that 
in  the  central  and  east  central  part  being  called  Fred- 
ericksburgh  Precinct;  and  the  smallest  strip  at  the 
extreme  east,  consisting  of  part  of  The  Oblong 
hitherto  mentioned,  being  known  as  South  East  Pre 
cinct.  It  may  be  added,  in  anticipation  of  the  narra 
tive,  that  on  March  17,  1788,  these  names  were 
changed  to  Philipstown,  Frederickstown,  and  South 
East,  respectively;  that  on  March  17, 1795,  the  towns 
of  Carmel  and  Franklin  were  formed  from  Freder- 

C58] 


ReducEd  Fac-similE  nf  nrder  of  arrest  issued  by 
Wrn,  Duer,  Chairman  of  Committee  an  ConspiraciES,  nf  the  "Provincial  Congress 

af  the  State  of  New  York"  to  Col.  ftenry  Ludington, 
(Original  paper  in  possession  of  Charles  H.  Ludington,  New  York  City.) 


THE  BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

ickstown,  and  the  remainder  of  the  last  named  was 
called  Fredericks;  that  on  April  6,  1808,  Franklin 
was  changed  to  Patterson,  and  on  April  15,  1817, 
Fredericks  was  changed  to  Kent.  It  may  further  be 
explained  that  the  Philipsburgh  Precinct  was  sub 
divided  into  two  nearly  equal  longitudinal  strips,  and 
the  one  along  the  Hudson  River  was  again  divided 
laterally  into  three  parts,  making  four  lots  in  all, 
which  were  numbered  from  1  to  4,  and  which  in  the 
partition  of  the  original  Phillipse  Patent  were  ap 
portioned  as  follows:  No.  1,  at  the  extreme  south 
west,  Susannah  Robinson;  No.  2,  next  at  the  west 
center,  Philip  Phillipse;  No.  3,  at  the  northwest, 
Mary  Phillipse;  and  No.  4,  the  long  strip  inland 
from  the  river,  Susannah  Robinson.  The  Freder- 
icksburgh  Precinct  was  likewise  divided  into  three  lon 
gitudinal  strips,  and  the  easternmost  of  them  into  three 
laterally,  making  five  lots  in  all,  numbered  from  5  to 
9,  and  these  were  apportioned  as  follows :  No.  5,  the 
long  strip  next  to  No.  4  of  Philipsburg,  to  Mary 
Phillipse ;  No.  6,  a  long  strip  next  to  No.  5,  to  Philip 
Phillipse;  No.  7,  a  "short  lot"  at  the  northeast,  to 
Susannah  Robinson;  No.  8,  a  short  lot  at  the  east 
center,  to  Philip  Phillipse;  and  No.  9,  a  short  lot  at 
the  southeast,  to  Mary  Phillipse.  When,  as  we  shall 
presently  see,  Henry  Ludington  became  colonel 
commanding  a  militia  regiment,  his  territorial  com 
mand  included  all  of  these  nine  lots  excepting  Nos.  7 
and  8.  He  was  thus  of  all  the  militia  commanders 
nearest  to  the  seat  of  government  when  it  was  at 

C59] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Fishkill,  and  was  brought  much  into  contact  with 
state  officials  there. 

Appreciating  the  important  part  which  the  militia 
would  play  in  the  conflict  which  was  then  seen  to  he 
impending  and  inevitable,  the  Provincial  Congress 
of  New  York,  in  session  at  New  York  City  on  Au 
gust  22,  1775,  adopted  an  elaborate  measure  for  the 
enlistment,  organization  and  equipment  of  such 
troops.  Every  county,  city,  manor,  town,  precinct, 
and  district  within  the  colony  was  to  be  divided  by  a 
local  committee  into  districts  or  beats,  in  such  a  man 
ner  that  in  each  beat  might  be  formed  one  military 
company,  ordinarily  to  consist  of  eighty -three  able- 
bodied  men  and  officers,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen 
and  fifty — afterward  sixty — years.  Not  less  than 
five  nor  more  than  ten  such  companies  were  to  form 
a  regiment,  and  the  regiments  were  to  be  organized 
into  brigades.  One  brigade  was  to  be  formed  of 
the  militia  of  Dutchess  and  Westchester  counties, 
commanded  by  a  brigadier-general.  It  was  also 
ordered— 

That  every  man  between  the  ages  of  16  and  50 
do  with  all  convenient  speed  furnish  himself  with 
a  good  Musket  or  firelock  &  Bayonet  Sword  or 
Tomahawk,  a  Steel  Ramrod,  Worm,  Priming 
Wire  and  Brush  fitted  thereto,  a  Cartouch  Box  to 
contain  23  rounds  of  cartridges,  12  flints  and  a 
knapsack  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  Con 
tinental  Congress  under  forfeiture  of  five  shill 
ings  for  the  want  of  a  musket  or  firelock  and  of 
one  shilling  for  want  of  a  bayonet,  sword  or 

C60] 


Map  of  Philipse  patent,  showing-  original  divisions 


Map  showing  territory  (shaded  portion)  covered  by 
Colonel  Ludington's  regiment 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE   REVOLUTION 

tomahawk,  cartridgebox,  cartridge  or  bullet. 
That  every  man  shall  at  his  place  of  abode  be  also 
provided  with  one  pound  of  powder  and  three 
pounds  of  bullets  of  proper  size  to  his  musket  or 
firelock. 

There  were  numerous  additional  prescriptions, 
concerning  discipline  and  drill,  the  duties  and  re 
sponsibilities  of  officers,  and  the  penalties  to  be  im 
posed  for  non-compliance.  In  case  of  any  alarm, 
invasion  or  insurrection,  every  man  thus  enrolled  was 
immediately  to  repair  to  headquarters,  to  wit,  the 
home  of  his  captain,  and  the  captain  was  to  march  the 
company  straight  to  the  scene  of  invasion  or  insur 
rection  "to  oppose  the  enemy,"  at  the  same  time  send 
ing  word  to  the  regimental  or  brigade  commander. 
A  little  later,  to  wit,  on  December  20,  the  Provincial 
Congress  ordered  that  the  militia  of  Dutchess  and 
Westchester  counties  should  form  two  separate  brig 
ades  ;  whence  we  may  assume  that  a  larger  enrolment 
of  militia  men  was  secured  in  those  counties  than  had 
at  first  been  expected. 

The  militia  were  called  out  whenever  needed,  and 
were  kept  out  as  long  as  they  were  needed,  but  they 
could  be  taken  outside  of  the  colony  or  state  for  no 
more  than  three  months  at  a  time.  Sometimes,  as 
Mr.  James  A.  Roberts  explains  in  his  work  on  "New 
York  in  the  Revolution,"  a  regiment  or  half  of  a 
regiment  would  be  called  out  half  a  dozen  times 
in  the  course  of  a  year,  perhaps  for  half  a  dozen  days 
at  a  time ;  and  again  might  not  be  called  out  once  for 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

a  whole  year.  The  regiments  were  commonly  desig 
nated  first  by  their  colonels'  names  and  next  by  their 
counties.  Officers  and  men  seem  to  have  served,  says 
Mr.  Roberts,  in  different  organizations  almost  indis 
criminately.  At  one  call  they  were  in  one  and  at  an 
other  they  were  in  another  regiment  or  company. 
Each  colonel  had  almost  unlimited  powers  in  the  dis 
trict  to  which  his  regiment  belonged,  and  he  was 
specially  required  to  see  that  every  able-bodied  male 
inhabitant  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty 
years  was  enrolled.  Moreover,  every  such  person 
must  serve  whenever  called  upon  to  do  so,  under  pen 
alty  of  fine  and  imprisonment;  and  if  incapacitated, 
he  must  contribute  toward  the  cost  of  securing  and 
equipping  another  man.  Among  the  rations  served 
to  all  were  tobacco,  sugar,  and  tea,  and  in  addition 
the  colonels  and  chaplains  received  liberal  allowances 
of  rum.  A  colonel's  pay  was  $75  a  month,  and  a  pri 
vate  soldier's  pay  $6.66  a  month;  not  always  in 
money,  but  sometimes  in  state  scrip  and  sometimes 
in  authority  to  "impress"  cattle  and  goods;  for  all 
which  things  taken  receipts  were  to  be  given  to  the 
owners  in  the  name  of  the  state,  so  that  payment 
could  afterward  be  made. 

This  enactment  by  New  York  was  made  in  pur 
suance  of  an  act  of  the  Continental  Congress,  on 
July  18,  1775,  which  "recommended  to  the  inhabi 
tants  of  all  the  united  English  Colonies  in  North 
America  that  all  able-bodied,  effective  men  between 
sixteen  and  fifty  years  of  age,  in  each  Colony,  might 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 

form  themselves  into  regular  companies  of  Militia, 
to  consist  of  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  one  ensign, 
four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  one  clerk,  one  drum 
mer,  one  fifer,  and  about  sixty-eight  privates." 

Each  company  was  permitted  to  elect  its  own  offi 
cers  ;  the  companies  were  to  be  formed  into  regiments 
or  battalions,  officered  with  a  colonel,  lieutenant- 
colonel,  two  majors,  an  adjutant  or  quartermaster. 
All  officers  above  the  rank  of  captain  were  to 
be  appointed  by  the  respective  Provincial  Assem 
blies,  or  Conventions,  or  by  the  Committees  of 
Safety. 

One  fourth  part  of  the  militia  in  every  county  was 
to  consist  of  minute  men,  who  were  ordered  "to  be 
ready  on  the  shortest  Notice  to  march  to  any  Place 
where  their  Assistance  may  be  required  for  the  De 
fence  of  their  own  or  a  neighboring  Colony."  As  the 
minute  men  were  expected  to  be  called  into  action  be 
fore  the  body  of  the  militia  were  sufficiently  trained, 
it  was  recommended  "that  a  more  particular  and 
diligent  attention  be  paid  to  their  instruction  in  mili 
tary  discipline." 

The  equipment  of  these  militia  companies  was 
at  first  painfully  meager,  and  their  muster-rolls, 
"spelled  by  the  unlettered  Muse,"  were  such  as 
would  drive  the  modern  officer  to  despair.  As  an  ex 
ample,  the  muster-roll  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Scrib- 
ner's  company  may  be  cited,  copied  verbatim  et  lite 
ratim  from  an  original  MS.  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Charles  H.  Ludington : 

C63] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 
Capt.  Scribner's  muster  role. 


Capt  Nathaniel  Scribner 

gun 

sword  o 

Ltn  Daniel  martine 

0 

o           catrig  box 

In  David  merrick 

o 

sword  o 

St.  Thomas  grigrory 

o 

0               0 

St.  Caleb  hazen 

o 

0               0 

St  makis  Brundige 

0 

o           o 

Cl  Thomas  willson 

gun 

o           catrig  box 

Cl  Isaac  Evritt 

gun 

sword  o 

Benianan  hamblon 

fiffer 

Stephen  Hyatt 

Drummer 

Joshua  grigrory 

o 

0               0 

gilbirt  ganung 

gun 

o          o 

Samuel  Pears 

o 

0               0 

Caleb  Pears 

gun 

0               0 

Rusel  grigrory 

gun 

sword  o 

f  reman  hopkins 

o 

0               0 

Samuel  horton 

o 

o           o 

Joseph  hopkins 

0 

o           o 

alexander  pears 

0 

o           o 

henery  Bolding 

gun 

sword  o 

John  f  erguson 

gun 

0               0 

Noah  robinson 

0 

0               0 

Joseph  ganung 

gun 

0               0 

Jesse  ganung 

gun 

0               0 

Elezur  hazen 

gun 

0               0 

william  haighson 

0 

o           o 

Lewis  Furguson 

0 

o           o 

abiiag  Barker 

o 

0               0 

Samuel  Jinkins 

gun 

0               0 

Jacob  mead 

gun 

0               0 

John  mcLean 

gun 

0               0 

John  Lounsbury 

0 

0               0 

John  thrustin 

0 

0               0 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 


Nathanel  finch 
Jona  Carle 
Thomas  Furguson 
Richard  p  e  grigrory 
James  Carle 
Nathaniel  Jinkins 
David  Storms 
John  Sloot 
John  frost 
gorge  Evritt 
Edward  Vermilyea 
John  Stedel 
Jonathan  hustice 
Thomas  Hall 
James  Barker 
John  wright 
Thadeus  Ramond 
robint  wright 
Beniaman  Birdsel 
Isaac  ganung 
Job  Veail 
Isaac  Sloot 
adonija  carle 
Samuel  Conkling 
Elisha  Bolding 
Jeremiah  hughson 
Jerediah  davis 
alaxander  Brown 
gedien  Simkins 
David  Fowler 
Daniel  worden 
abraham  Furguson 
Jones  Semans 
Nathanel  Robinson 
John  Sloot 


0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

o 
gun 

0 

o    o 
sword  o 

o    o 

0 

gun 

o 

0      0 

sword  o 
o    o 

o 

o    o 

gun 
gun 

0 

o    o 
sword  o 

0      0 

o 

o    o 

gun 

0 

o    o 

0      0 

0 

o    o 

gun 

0 

o    o 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

gun 

0 

0      0 
0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

0 

0      0 

C65] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Annexed  to  the  muster  roll  was  the  following  ad 
dendum  : 

These  air  men  What  is  gon  into  the  servis 

Lef tenant  John  munrow 
St.  Josiah  grigrory 
Jacob  birdsel 
Jacob  ganung 
John  Shaw 
Solomon  hustice 
parce  holding 
John  Vermilya 
Richard  Barker 
Daniel  grigrory 
Zebulon  wright 
Isaac  merick 
Eli  hopkins 
James  mcf  arling 
Rhubin  finch 
Timothy  wood 
Jonathan  Semans 
william  Virmilya 
Thomas  hagson 
Jonathan  hopkins 
moses  hazen 
Samuel  bouton 
Isaac  Lounsbury. 

In  the  work  of  enlisting  and  organizing  these 
militia  levies  the  most  efficient  men  were  naturally 
those  who  had  already  had  military  experience  and 
command  as  officers  in  some  of  the  colonial  wars. 
Henry  Ludington  was  among  these.  He  had  had 
such  experience  in  a  noteworthy  degree,  and  to  it 

C66] 


THE  BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

he  added  both  physical  and  temperamental  aptitude 
for  military  labors,  and  an  ardent  spirit  of  patriot 
ism.  Leaving  the  service  in  1759  as  a  lieutenant,  he 
had,  as  already  related,  resigned  his  commission  in 
indignation  at  the  Stamp  Act.  On  February  13, 
1773,  however,  he  accepted  a  commission  as  captain 
in  Colonel  Beverly  Robinson's  Dutchess  County 
regiment,  and  this  commission,  which  was  signed  by 
William  Tryon,  the  last  British  governor  of  New 
York,  he  held  until  1775,  or  possibly  1776,  when  he 
cast  it  aside  and  entered  the  "Rebel"  or  Patriotic 
service.  The  militia  of  Dutchess  County  was  organ 
ized,  under  the  law  already  cited,  in  the  fall  of  1775, 
and  on  October  17  Petrus  Ten  Broeck,  the  colonel 
of  the  First  or  Rhinebeck  and  Northwest  regiment, 
was  commissioned  brigadier-general  commanding. 
Of  the  Second  regiment  of  Dutchess  County,  Jac 
obus  Swartwout  was  colonel,  and  when  in  time  the 
militia  of  the  county  was  so  increased  as  to  form  two 
brigades,  he  was,  on  March  3,  1780,  appointed  brig 
adier-general  commanding  one  of  them.  Swart- 
wout's  commission  as  colonel  was  also  issued  on  Oc 
tober  17, 1775,  and  at  the  same  time  Malcolm  Morri 
son  was  commissioned  first  major  and  Henry  Lud- 
ington  was  commissioned  second  major  of  his  regi 
ment.  Ludington  seems  also  to  have  served  as  cap 
tain  of  the  company  raised  in  his  home  district,  and 
to  have  been  prompt  and  energetic  in  his  service ;  for 
on  February  20,  1776,  we  find  Colonel  Swartwout 
in  a  letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  reporting  that 

[67] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

he  was  in  hourly  expectation  of  Captain  Luding- 
ton's  appearance  at  regimental  headquarters,  to 
gether  with  Captains  Woodford  from  Pawling's, 
Clearck  from  Beekman's,  and  Durling  from 
Rombout  Precinct.  The  Congress  the  next  day  or 
dered  that  all  the  men  thus  reported  should  serve  un 
til  May  1  of  that  year,  unless  sooner  discharged. 

Soon  afterward  came  Ludington's  first  promo 
tion.  On  March  8,  1776,  Malcolm  Morrison,  the 
first  major  of  Swartwout's  regiment,  addressed  to 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  this  letter: 

Gentlemen:  Whereas  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  has  been  pleased  to  appoint 
me  First  Major  in  Colo.  Swartwout's  regiment, 
and  as  my  situation  and  business  is  such,  that  it 
is  not  within  my  power  to  serve  without  doing 
injustice  to  myself  and  creditors,  having  a  con 
siderable  interest  in  my  hands  to  settle,  and  hav 
ing  a  large  family  to  take  care  of  without  any 
person  to  assist  me  in  settling  my  affairs,  and 
whereas  Major  Henry  Ludington,  appointed  in 
the  militia,  is  prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  com 
mission  sent  me,  and  if  agreeable  to  you,  do  re 
sign  in  his  favor.  He  can  be  recommended  by 
Colo.  Swartwout  or  the  Committee  of  Dutchess 
County,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  prevailed  upon 
to  appoint  him  in  my  stead,  he  being  a  person 
that  has  served  in  the  last  war  and  well  ac 
quainted  in  the  military  service,  and,  Gentlemen, 
your  compliance  will  greatly  oblige, 

Your  Very  Humble  Servant, 

MALCOLM  MORRISON. 

C68] 


THE  BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

Mr.  Ludington  waits  for  an  answer. 
N.B.    Gentlemen,  enclosed  you  have  the  com 
mission. 

This  extraordinarily  naive  and  unconventional  let 
ter  was  received  on  March  9,  apparently  being  borne 
by  Major  Ludington  himself  as  messenger.  It  was 
favorably  acted  upon,  and  the  next  day,  March  10, 
Ludington  was  made  first  major  of  the  regiment  in 
Morrison's  place.  At  this  time  the  companies  were 
not  yet  filled,  and  the  regiment  was  small.  But  re 
cruiting  went  on  rapidly,  so  that  by  the  first  of  May, 
1776,  the  regiment  was  actually  too  large.  Accord 
ingly  on  May  6  the  Committee  of  Dutchess  County 
took  action  for  the  formation  of  another  regiment  in 
that  part  of  the  county,  as  reported  in  the  following 
letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress : 

Sir: — It  having  been  represented  to  the  Gen 
eral  Committee  of  this  County,  that  the  Southern 
Regiment  of  Militia  was  too  large  and  exten 
sive,  containing  12  companies  and  covering  a 
space  of  country  upwards  of  30  miles  in  length, 
we  have,  therefore,  not  only  because  in  other 
respects  it  was  expedient,  but  also  in  compliance 
with  the  Resolution  of  Congress  prohibiting  a 
Regiment  to  consist  of  more  than  10  Companies, 
divided  it,  and  instead  of  one  have  formed  the 
Militia  in  that  quarter  into  2  regiments,  together 
with  a  list  of  persons  nominated  for  Field  Offi 
cers.  As  this  part  of  our  Militia  will  remain  un- 
regimented  till  the  Officers  receive  their  Commis 
sions,  we  must  request  that  the  Commissions  be 

C693 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

made  out  as  soon  as  possible  and  sent  to  the  Com 
mittee  in  Rombout's  Precinct  with  directions  to 
forward  them  to  the  Officers  immediately. 
I  remain,  by  order  of  the  Committee, 
Your  very  humble  servant, 

EGBERT  BENSON     Chairman. 

The  new  regiment,  as  described  in  an  enclosure  in 
Mr.  Benson's  letter,  was  to  consist  of  all  the  militia 
in  Phillipse  Precinct,  and  in  all  of  Fredericksburgh 
Precinct  "except  the  Northern  and  Middle  Short 
Lots" — at  the  northeast,  as  hitherto  explained.  The 
field  officers  nominated  were  as  follows:  Colonel, 
Moses  Dusenbury;  lieutenant-colonel,  Henry  Lud- 
ington;  first  major,  Reuben  Ferris;  second  major, 
Joshua  Nelson;  adjutant,  Joshua  Myrick;  quarter 
master,  Solomon  Hopkins.  These  nominations  were 
promptly  confirmed.  A  little  later  Henry  Luding- 
ton  was  commissioned  colonel  of  this  regiment,  to 
succeed  Colonel  Dusenbury.  The  exact  date  is  not 
now  ascertainable,  but  according  to  the  mutilated  re 
mains  of  the  commission,  a  facsimile  of  which  is  given 
in  this  volume,  it  was  some  time  in  June,  1776.  The 
commission— his  first  as  colonel — was  issued  by  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New  York, 
and  was  one  of  the  last  acts  of  that  body,  which  in 
that  month  of  June,  1776,  went  out  of  existence,  and 
on  July  9  following  was  succeeded  by  a  new  Pro 
vincial  Congress,  meeting  at  White  Plains,  which  the 
next  day,  July  10,  changed  its  name  to  the  Conven 
tion  of  the  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New 

C70] 


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THE  BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

York.  With  this  change  of  government  new  com 
missions  were  issued  to  officers,  Henry  Ludington 
receiving  one  as  colonel,  which  is  now  in  the  posses 
sion  of  his  grandson,  Charles  H.  Ludington.  His 
regiment,  the  seventh  of  the  Dutchess  County  mili 
tia,  was  thereafter  popularly  known  and  indeed 
often  officially  designated  as  Colonel  Ludington's 
regiment.  Unfortunately  its  earliest  muster-rolls  and 
record  of  organization  have  not  been  preserved,  or 
cannot  now  be  found,  but  it  is  known  to  have  con 
sisted  of  six  companies.  The  minutes  of  the  Council 
of  Appointment  do  not  mention  it  until  May  28, 
1778,  when  it  is  called  Colonel  Henry  Ludington's 
regiment.  At  this  latter  date  Stephen  Ludington 
was  a  second  lieutenant  in  Captain  Joel  Mead's 
(1st)  company.  We  may  here  add  that  in  various 
rosters  of  New  York  troops  the  following  names  of 
members  of  the  Ludington  family  appear,  in  ad 
dition  to  Colonel  Ludington: 

Stephen  Ludington,  and  also  Stephen  Ludenton 
(doubtless  the  same  person),  private,  in  Brincker- 
hoff's  company  of  Brinckerhoff  s  regiment — the  sec 
ond  regiment  of  Dutchess  County,  Rombout  Pre 
cinct. 

Elisha  Luddington,  private,  of  Livingston's  com 
pany  of  Malcolm's  regiment — the  first  regiment  of 
New  York  levies  in  the  United  States  Army.  Also, 
Elisha  Luddington,  private,  in  Barnum's  company 
of  Hopkins's  regiment — the  sixth  regiment  of 
Dutchess  County. 

[71] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

William  Luddington,  private,  in  Westfall's  com 
pany  of  Wessenfels's  regiment. 

Comfort  Ludington,  private,  in  Hecock's  com 
pany  of  Field's  regiment — the  third  regiment  of 
Dutchess  County.  Also,  Comfort  Ludington,  pri 
vate,  in  Mead's  company  of  Ludington's  regiment— 
the  seventh  regiment  of  Dutchess  County.  Also, 
Comfort  Luddington,  captain  of  a  company  of  the 
second  regiment  of  minute  men  of  Dutchess  County, 
commissioned  on  February  26,  1776. 

Early  in  June,  1776,  probably  at  about  the  time  of 
Colonel  Ludington's  appointment,  and  a  month  be 
fore  the  formal  declaration  of  American  independ 
ence,  the  Continental  Congress  called  for  13,800 
militia  from  the  Colonies,  to  reenforce  the  army  at 
New  York,  in  addition  to  other  levies  for  the  army 
which  was  to  invade  Canada.  New  York's  share  of 
this  levy  was  3,750,  of  whom  3,000  were  for  service 
at  New  York  and  750  for  the  expedition  to  Canada. 
The  latter  were  naturally  selected  from  the  northern 
counties,  while  the  3,000  for  local  service  were  taken 
from  the  counties  along  the  Hudson  and  around  the 
city  of  New  York.  Among  the  latter  were  335  men 
from  Dutchess  County,  a  larger  number  than  was 
contributed  by  any  other  county  excepting  New 
York  and  Albany.  The  Dutchess  County  con 
tingent  was  ordered  to  be  ready  to  march  on 
June  21. 

The  local  needs  of  Dutchess  County  were  not, 
however,  to  be  overlooked.  A  committee  of  the  New 


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THE  BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

York  Congress  on  June  20  reported  that  there  were 
many  disaffected  and  dangerous  persons  in  Dutchess 
and  Westchester  counties,  who  greatly  disturbed  the 
peace,  and  who  would  probably  take  up  arms  when 
ever  the  enemy  should  make  a  descent  upon  that 
region,  and  that  the  requisitions  of  troops  made  by 
the  Continental  Congress  had  left  the  militia  incap 
able  of  keeping  peace  and  order  "without  great  in 
convenience  to  themselves  and  much  injury  to  and 
neglect  of  their  private  property."  It  was  therefore 
recommended,  and  ordered,  that  100  men  and  officers 
in  Dutchess  County  and  50  in  Westchester  County 
be  taken  into  the  service  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
"and  confined  to  the  Service  of  those  Counties."  The 
100  men  in  Dutchess  County  were  organized  in  two 
companies.  On  July  16  the  Provincial  Congress,  or 
Convention,  was  in  session  at  White  Plains,  and  it 
there  ordered  that  one  fourth  of  the  militia  of  those 
two  counties  should  be  summoned  into  active  service, 
until  the  end  of  the  year;  each  man  receiving  $20 
bounty,  and  the  same  pay  and  subsistence  as  the  Con 
tinental  soldiers.  Among  those  thus  drawn  into  the 
service  was  Colonel  Ludington. 

The  first  care  of  Colonel  Ludington  on  assuming 
command  of  his  regiment  was  to  fill  up  its  ranks  and 
organize  a  complete  staff  of  officers.  In  reporting  to 
the  Convention — or  Provincial  Congress,  as  he  still 
called  it — upon  this  work,  he  wrote  under  date  of 
July  19,  1776,  from  Fredericksburgh,  as  follows,  this 
letter  being  transformed  into  modern  and  corrected 

[733 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

orthography,  and  others  which  follow  being  thus 
edited  only  enough  to  insure  intelligibility: 

These  may  inform  Your  Honors  that  I  meet 
with  some  difficulty  in  furnishing  my  quota  of 
men  for  the  present  emergency,  for  want  of  com 
missions  in  the  regiment  which  I  have  the  honor 
to  command.  We  have  a  number  of  officers 
chosen  already  that  have  no  commissions,  and 
several  more  must  be  chosen  in  order  to  have  the 
regiment  properly  officered.  And  whereas  I  have 
applied  to  the  County  Committee  for  blanks  to  be 
filled  up,  and  there  are  none  to  be  had,  therefore 
I,  in  conjunction  with  the  committee  of  this  Pre 
cinct,  would  desire  that  there  might  be  about 
twenty  blank  commissions  sent  up  by  Mr. 
Myrick,  the  bearer  hereof.  I  would  further  ac 
quaint  Your  Honors  that  the  regiment  is  desti 
tute  of  Majors,  and  would  be  glad  if  Your  Hon 
ors  would  appoint  two  gentlemen  to  that  office 
and  fill  up  commissions  for  them.  There  are  two 
gentlemen  that  I  do,  with  the  advice  of  the  Com 
mittee,  nominate,  viz.,  Mr.  Gee — his  Christian 
name  I  am  not  able  to  tell — of  Phillipse  Pre 
cinct,  and  Captain  Ebenezer  Robinson  of  this 
Precinct.  These  gentlemen  are  doubtless  known 
by  several  of  the  members  of  the  honorable 
House. 

From  Your  Humble  Servant, 

HENRY  LUDENTON,  Colonel. 
To  the  Honorable  Provincial  Congress. 

The  annals  of  the  New  York  Convention,  under 
date  of  July  20,  1776,  relate  that  this  letter  was  re 
ceived,  read,  and  filed,  and  that — 


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THE   BEGINNING  OF   THE   REVOLUTION 

On  reading  the  said  letter  from  Colonel 
Ludentoii,  of  Dutchess  County,  and  considering 
the  state  of  his  Regiment  at  this  critical  time, 

Resolved,  That  Commissions  be  issued  to  the 
two  gentlemen  therein  named  in  said  letter,  and 
that  20  other  Commissions  be  signed  by  the  Presi 
dent  and  countersigned  by  one  of  the  Secretaries 
and  transmitted  to  Colonel  Ludenton,  to  be  filled 
up  for  the  Captains  and  Subalterns  of  his  Regi 
ment  when  necessary,  by  the  Precinct  Committee 
and  himself;  that  said  Precinct  Committee  and 
Colonel  Ludenton  return  to  this  Convention  an 
exact  list  of  the  names,  rank  and  dates  of  the 
Officers  commissioned,  which  they  shall  fill  up 
and  deliver. 

And  Resolved,  That  the  sending  blank  com 
missions  to  a  Precinct  Committee  shall  not  from 
this  instance  be  drawn  into  precedent. 

In  this  fashion  Colonel  Ludington  prepared  for 
the  stern  activities  before  him.  The  "critical  time" 
referred  to  in  the  resolutions  of  the  Convention  was 
indeed  critical.  New  York  was  in  imminent  danger 
of  being  occupied  by  the  British,  and  British  war 
ships  were  likely  soon  to  ascend  the  Hudson  River. 
John  Jay  was  intrusted  with  the  making  of  plans  for 
the  defense  of  the  Hudson  Highlands.  On  August 
1,  Jay,  Duer,  and  others,  were  made  a  committee  to 
draft  a  plan  for  a  new  government  for  the  State  of 
New  York.  The  battle  of  Long  Island  was  fought 
on  August  27,  and  a  little  later  the  British  were  in 
full  possession  of  New  York  and  its  environs.  The 
Convention  was  driven  to  Harlem,  to  Kingsbridge, 

C75] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

to  Odell's  in  Phillipse  Manor,  to  Fishkill,  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  to  Kingston.  On  October  20  the  battle 
of  Chatterton  Hill  was  fought,  at  White  Plains,  in 
which  Colonel  Ludington's  regiment  was  engaged, 
and  in  which  he  himself  served  as  one  of  Washing 
ton's  aides,  and  thus  began  his  acquaintance  with  the 
commander-in-chief.  When  Washington's  army 
crossed  the  Hudson  River,  however,  for  the  "devil's 
dance  across  the  Jerseys,"  and  the  superb  turning  at 
bay  at  Trenton,  the  New  York  militia  levies  re 
mained  at  home,  where  indeed  they  were  sorely 
needed.  The  Tory  element  in  Westchester  and 
Dutchess  counties  had  from  the  first  been  ominously 
strong.  With  the  British  victories  in  and  around 
New  York,  and  with  the  American  Army  in  appar 
ently  hopeless  rout  and  flight,  they  were  emboldened 
to  open  hostility  to  the  Patriot  cause.  A  report  to 
the  Convention,  or  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  on 
September  4,  made  it  appear  that  in  the  four  coun 
ties  of  Dutchess,  Westchester,  Orange  and  Ulster 
there  were  only  3,100  armed  and  trustworthy  militia, 
while  there  were  2,300  disaffected  Tories  and  2,300 
slaves  to  be  held  in  order.  A  month  later  the  situa 
tion  was  much  worse,  and  it  was  then  that  there  was 
formed  the  committee  already  mentioned,  "for  in 
quiring  into,  detecting  and  defeating  conspiracies 
against  the  liberties  of  America."  The  war  was  now 
on,  in  earnest,  and  "malice  domestic,  foreign  levy," 
were  both  at  once  to  be  grappled  with  by  the  Patriot 
soldiers. 

C763 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  REVOLUTION 

THE  public  services  of  Henry  Ludington  during 
the  war  for  independence  were  threefold  in 
character.  Each  of  the  three  parts  was  of  much  im 
portance,  each  was  marked  with  arduous  toil  and  fre 
quent  perils,  and  each  was  performed  to  the  full 
extent  of  his  ability.  Nor  was  the  sacrifice  of  per 
sonal  welfare  inconsiderable.  We  have  seen  that  he 
was  the  father  of  a  large  family,  eight  children  hav 
ing  been  born  to  him  prior  to  the  signing  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  was  the  leasehold 
occupant  of  extensive  lands.  It  was  no  light  thing 
to  absent  himself  from  these.  There  was  before 
him,  moreover,  the  example  of  another  and  senior 
officer,  who,  because  of  family  interests  and  engage 
ments,  had  resigned  his  commission.  That  same 
commission  had  been  passed  on  to  Henry  Ludington, 
who  might  with  equal  grace  and  reason  have  declined 
it  or  presently  resigned  it.  There  is,  however,  no  in 
dication  that  he  ever  contemplated  such  a  step. 
Leaving  his  lands  and  home  in  the  charge  of  his  wife 
and  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  in  1776  was  only 
fifteen,  while  the  youngest  was  a  babe  in  arms,  he 
gave  himself  with  whole-hearted  devotion  to  what 
ever  tasks  his  country  might  require  of  him. 

C77] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

The  distinctively  military  services  of  Henry  Lud- 
ington  began  at  an  early  date.  The  first  clash  of 
arms  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence  oc 
curred  on  the  shores  of  New  York  Bay.  The  retire 
ment  of  the  American  Army,  after  unsuccessful  en 
gagements,  from  Long  Island,  and  then  from  Man 
hattan  Island,  brought  the  theater  of  war  closer  and 
closer  to  Dutchess  County,  and  made  the  active  par 
ticipation  of  the  militia  more  imminent.  Indeed,  even 
before  those  operations,  the  militia  was  called  out  to 
assist  in  securing  the  passes  of  the  Hudson  High 
lands,  and  thus  preventing  any  communication  be 
tween  the  British  at  New  York  and  those  in  Canada 
and  the  North  Woods.  The  Convention  or  Legis 
lature  of  the  State,  in  session  at  Harlem,  on  August 
8,  1776,  adopted  the  following  war  measure: 

RESOLVED  unanimously  that  Brigadier 
General  Clinton  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  appointed 
to  the  Command  of  all  the  Levies  raised,  and  to 
be  raised  in  the  Counties  of  Ulster,  Orange  and 
West  Chester,  agreeable  to  the  Resolutions  of 
this  Convention  of  the  sixteenth  day  of  July  last. 

RESOLVED  that  General  Clinton  be  in 
formed  of  this  Appointment  and  directed  imme 
diately  to  send  Expresses  to  the  Counties  of  Ul 
ster,  Dutchess,  Orange  and  West  Chester,  and 
order  them  to  hasten  their  Levies  and  to  march 
them  down  to  the  Fort  now  erected  on  the  North 
side  of  Kings  Bridge,  leaving  two  hundred  men 
under  the  Command  of  a  Brave  &  alert  Officer  to 
take  possession  of  and  throw  up  works  at  the  pass 
of  Anthonys  Nose. 

[78] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

RESOLVED  that  General  Clinton  be  re 
quested  to  order  the  Troops  of  Horse  belonging 
to  the  Counties  of  Ulster,  Orange  and  West 
Chester  immediately  to  march  to  such  posts  as  he 
may  think  proper  that  they  should  Occupy,  in 
order  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  Enemies  Ships 
of  war  now  in  Hudsons  River. 

Extracts  from  the  Minutes. 

JOHN  MCKESSON  Secry. 

When  the  ships  of  war  had  landed  an  army,  and 
this  was  moving  irresistibly  northward,  a  committee 
of  the  Convention,  meeting  at  Fishkill  as  a  Com 
mittee  of  Safety,  on  October  10,  further  ordered: 

RESOLVED,  that  the  Commanding  officer 
of  the  militia  of  Ulster  County,  do  immediately 
send  down  300  men  of  the  Militia  of  the  County 
of  Ulster,  to  Peekskill  well  armed  and  accoutred 
with  three  days  provisions. 

RESOLVED,  that  the  Commanding  Officer 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Mountains  or  High-Lands 
in  the  County  of  Orange,  be  directed  to  order 
such  a  number  of  the  militia  from  that  part  of  the 
said  County  which  lays  on  the  south  side  of  the 
High  Lands  as  will  be  sufficient  to  Guard  their 
shores,  and  to  appoint  a  commissioner  to  supply 
them  with  provisions. 

And  that  the  Commanding  Officer  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Highlands,  in  the  said  County,  Order 
one  hundred  of  the  Militia  from  the  north  side  of 
the  High  Lands  of  the  said  County  to  march 
without  Delay  to  Peekskill  taking  with  them 
three  days  provisions. 

[79] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

RESOLVED  that  Benjamin  Haight  and 
Mathew  Harper  be  commissioners  to  supply 
them  with  provisions,  and  that  this  Convention 
will  provide  means  for  defraying  the  Expense. 

ORDERED,  that  the  Brigadier  Generals  of 
the  Counties  of  Albany,  Dutchess,  Ulster  and 
Orange,  give  orders  to  the  several  Colonels  in 
their  Brigades  to  hold  the  one  half  of  their  sev 
eral  Regiments  in  Readiness  to  march  at  an 
hour's  notice  with  five  days  provisions. 

RESOLVED,  that  all  Ranges  raised  in  the 
County  of  Ulster  repair  immediately  to  Fishkill 
and  be  subject  to  the  direction  of  the  Committee 
for  enquiring  into,  detecting,  and  defeating  all 
conspiracies  formed  in  this  State  against  the  Lib 
erties  of  America. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  this  Afternoon. 
JOHN  McKsssoN,  Secr'y. 

The  turning-point  in  the  campaign  which  began 
at  Brooklyn  occurred  on  October  28,  at  White 
Plains.  There,  at  Chatterton  Hill,  Washington 
once  more  engaged  the  British,  and  once  more  was 
compelled  to  retire  before  them.  With  the  masterly 
strategy  in  which  he  was  unrivaled  by  any  soldier  of 
his  time,  however,  instead  of  falling  back  upon  the 
defenses  of  the  Hudson  Highlands  and  thus  inviting 
a  conflict  which  might  have  cost  him  the  possession  of 
that  crucial  point,  he  retreated  in  another  direction, 
south  and  west,  thus  drawing  the  British  away  from 
the  Highlands  and  leaving  the  latter  secure.  Had 
the  British,  instead  of  pursuing  him  in  that  fruitless 
chase  across  the  Jerseys,  only  to  meet  with  disaster  at 

C80] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

Trenton,  hurled  themselves  against  the  forts  at 
West  Point  and  elsewhere  along  the  Hudson,  they 
might  easily  have  gained  control  of  the  Hudson,  and 
thus  have  effected  a  junction  with  their  northern 
forces  and  have  altered  the  whole  story  of  the  war. 
We  may  suppose  that  that  is  what  Washington  would 
have  done  had  he  been  in  Clinton's  place.  The  British 
did  not  do  so,  but  fell  into  the  trap  which  the  wily 
American  had  set  for  them.  In  the  battle  at  White 
Plains,  however, — which  is  more  to  our  purpose  than 
the  subsequent  campaign, — the  militia  was  largely 
used,  and  acquitted  itself  with  credit.  In  an  appli 
cation  for  a  pension  made  by  Joshua  Baker  of 
Dutchess  County,  it  was  set  forth  that  "On  or  about 
the  1st  day  of  August,  1776,  he  enlisted  at  a  place 
called  Fredericksburgh  in  the  County  of  Dutchess 
and  State  of  New  York  at  which  place  he  was  resid 
ing.  That  he  entered  the  company  commanded  by 
Captain  Luddenton  in  the  regiment  commanded  by 
Col.  Swartwout.  That  from  Fredericksburgh  afore 
said  he  marched  with  the  said  company  to  Peekskill 
and  after  a  short  time  from  thence  to  Kingsbridge 
in  the  county  of  Westchester,  that  he  remained  at 
Kingsbridge  until  the  month  of  October,  when  they 
were  ordered  to  White  Plains,  where  he  was  in  the 
engagement  generally  known  as  the  battle  of  White 
Plains.  In  this  engagement  one  of  the  Chaplains 
named  Van  Wyck  was  killed.  Soon  after  the  battle 
of  White  Plains  he  marched  with  the  said  regiment 
to  New  Windsor  where  he  was  discharged."  The 

[813 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

"Captain  Luddenton"  mentioned  was  presumably 
Comfort  Ludington,  who,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
was  an  officer  of  the  Dutchess  County  militia,  and 
the  statement  of  Baker  is  clear  indication  that  that 
militia  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  White  Plains. 

Further  evidence  to  the  same  effect,  directly  con 
necting  Henry  Ludington  with  that  battle,  is  found 
in  the  affidavit  of  Elisha  Turner,  who  declared 
"That  in  the  fall  of  1776  he  was  drafted  for  three 
months  in  Captain  Joel  Mead's  Company,  Lieut. 
Porter,  and  Sear  gents  Fisher  and  Brewsters  in 
Colonel  Ludington's  Reg't  New  York  State  troops. 
That  he  joined  his  company  and  marched  to  White 
Plains  and  then  joined  his  regiment  and  the  Army, 
that  he  was  present  at  the  battle  of  White  Plains  and 
afterward  retired  with  the  army  up  the  river.  That 
he  remained  with  his  Regiment  and  company  until 
his  term  of  three  months  expired,  when  he  received  a 
verbal  discharge  from  his  Colonel  and  Captain  and 
returned  home."  Much  other  evidence  to  the  same 
effect  might  be  cited,  were  it  needed,  which  it  is  not. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Henry  Ludington  with 
his  regiment  was  engaged  at  White  Plains,  and  that 
he,  himself,  as  a  representative  officer  of  the  Dutchess 
County  levies,  was  chosen  to  serve  as  an  aide  on  the 
staff  of  Washington.  The  commander-in-chief  ap 
pears  to  have  recognized  in  Colonel  Ludington  a  man 
upon  whose  brain  and  arm  he  might  with  confidence 
depend.  It  is  a  credible  tradition  that  during  that 
battle  Washington  complimented  him  upon  his  sol- 


THE   REVOLUTION 

dier-like  bearing,  and  indirectly  paid  a  tribute  to  his 
vigilance.  A  family  tradition  tells  that  as  the  two 
stood  side  by  side,  with  the  rest  of  the  staff  about 
them,  Colonel  Ludington  noticed  the  British  tak 
ing  up  a  new  position  and  placing  their  artillery, 
screened  behind  shrubs  and  trees,  and  directed  Wash 
ington's  attention  to  the  fact,  which  had  been  en 
tirely  unperceived  by  the  others.  "Yes,"  said  Wash 
ington,  approvingly,  "I  have  been  watching  them 
this  long  time." 

On  November  6,  the  British  began  their  fatuous 
movement  toward  New  Jersey,  imagining  that  the 
American  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  rather  than  the 
American  Army  and  fortresses  along  the  Hudson, 
was  the  strategical  objective.  The  American  Coun 
cil  of  War  unanimously  agreed  that  Washington's 
army  should  thereupon  cross  into  New  Jersey,  antici 
pating  the  British  advance,  while  three  thousand 
troops,  including  Colonel  Ludington's  Dutchess 
County  militia,  should  be  sent  to  reinforce  the  de 
fenses  of  the  Highlands.  Washington  left  White 
Plains  on  the  morning  of  November  10,  and  reached 
Peekskill  at  sunset  of  the  same  day,  Colonel  Lud 
ington's  regiment  presumably  accompanying  him. 
After  a  careful  inspection  of  the  works  as  far  up  the 
river  as  West  Point,  and  after  giving  directions  for 
the  disposition  of  the  troops,  on  November  12  he 
passed  over  into  New  Jersey,  and  went  his  way  to 
the  disaster  of  Fort  Washington,  and  the  more  than 
redeeming  victory  of  Trenton.  Meanwhile,  Colonel 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

"Ludington  remained  at  Peekskill,  where  there  pres 
ently  was  a  prospect  of  strenuous  work.  For  hav 
ing,  as  they  imagined,  put  Washington  to  hopeless 
flight  in  New  Jersey,  the  British  turned  a  part  of  their 
attention  to  the  very  thing  to  which  their  chief  at 
tention  should  at  the  outset  have  been  given.  Plans 
were  made  for  an  advance  up  the  Hudson,  by  land 
and  water.  West  Point  was  to  be  avoided  by 
inarching  up  the  east  shore,  where  the  defenses  were 
not  so  strong.  Such  a  movement  must,  of  course,  be 
resisted  at  all  hazards.  Washington,  from  his  camp 
on  the  Delaware,  in  what  Thomas  Paine  described  as 
"the  times  that  try  men's  souls,"  was  able  to  spare 
enough  attention  from  his  own  pressing  extremities 
to  write  words  of  warning  and  exhortation  to  Gov 
ernor  Clinton,  and  in  pursuance  of  his  wise  counsels 
the  New  York  Convention,  at  Fishkill,  on  December 
21,  adopted  the  following  resolutions: 

WHEREAS,  from  various  Intelligence  re 
ceived  of  the  motions  and  Designs  of  the  Enemy's 
Army,  it  appears  highly  probable  that  they  medi 
tate  an  attack  upon  the  Passes  in  the  Highlands 
on  the  East  side  of  Hudson's  River, 

AND  WHEREAS,  the  Term  of  the  Enlist 
ment  of  the  militia  under  the  command  of  Briga 
dier  General  George  Clinton  which  is  at  present 
stationed  to  defend  the  Pass  at  Peeks  Kill  ex 
pires  on  the  last  of  this  month,  and  that  a  great 
part  of  the  Division  commanded  by  Major  Gen 
eral  Spencer,  which  is  stationed  at  North  Castle 
on  the  29th  inst. 

[84] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

AND  WHEREAS,  his  Excellency  GenL 
Washington  by  his  Letter  of  the  15th  instant  has 
warmly  recommended  to  this  state  to  exert  them 
selves  in  procuring  temporary  supplies  of  militia 
'till  the  new  Levies  of  the  continental  army  can 
be  brought  into  the  Field, 

RESOLVED,  that  the  whole  militia  of  the 
Counties  of  Westchester,  Dutchess  and  that  part 
of  the  County  of  Albany  which  lies  to  the  south 
ward  of  Beeren  Island  be  forthwith  marched  to 
North  Castle  in  Westchester  County,  well 
equipped  with  arms  and  ammunition  and  fur 
nished  with  Blankets  &  six  days  Provisions  &  a 
Pot  or  Camp  Kettle  to  every  six  men,  except 
such  Persons  as  the  field  Officers  of  the  Respec 
tive  Regiments  shall  judge  cannot  be  called  into 
service  without  greatly  distressing  their  families, 
or  who  may  be  actually  engaged  in  the  manufac 
turing  of  salt  Petre,  or  of  shoes  and  Cloathing 
for  the  use  of  the  army. 

RESOLVED,  that  the  said  militia  be  allowed 
continental  Pay  and  Rations,  and  that  such  men 
as  cannot  furnish  themselves  with  arms  shall  be 
supplied  from  the  continental  store. 

Colonel  Ludington  and  his  regiment  therefore  re 
mained  on  duty  at  North  Castle  until  word  came  of 
the  rout  of  the  British  at  Trenton  and  Princeton,  and 
Washington's  triumphant  return  to  the  hills  of  Mor- 
ristown  for  the  winter.  All  imminent  danger  of  a 
British  attack  upon  the  Highlands  was  then  past,  and 
the  militia  was  permitted  to  return  home  for  a  time. 
The  respite  was  brief,  however.  On  January  3, 
1777,  Nathaniel  Sackett  was  authorized  by  the  Com- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

mittee  of  Safety  "to  employ  such  detachments  of  the 
militia  of  Dutchess  County  as  are  not  in  actual  ser 
vice,  as  he  may  deem  expedient,  for  inquiring  into, 
detecting  and  defeating  all  conspiracies  which  may 
be  found  against  the  liberties  of  America."  Also, 
on  March  25,  the  Convention  took  further  action,  re 
sulting  in  the  issuance  of  this  order  by  Governor 
Clinton : 

To  Colonel  Morris  Graham, 

Pursuant  to  a  Resolve  of  the  Honorable  the 
Convention  of  the  State  of  New  York,  dated  the 
25th  day  of  March  last,  impowering  &  requiring 
me  until  the  first  of  August  next  to  call  into 
actual  Service  all  or  any  Part  or  proportion  of  the 
Militia  as  well  Horse  as  Foot  of  the  Counties  of 
Ulster,  West  Chester,  Dutchess  and  Orange,  for 
the  Defence  of  the  Posts  and  Passes  of  the  High 
lands,  &  frustrating  the  Attempts  of  the  Enemy 
to  make  Incursions  into  this  State  you  are  for 
these  Purposes  forthwith,  to  draft  by  Ballot  or 
other  equitable  Manner,  one  hundred  &  thirty 
three  Men  of  your  Regiment  &  them  compleatly 
armed  &  equiped,  cause  to  march,  properly  Offi 
cered,  to  Fort  Independence  near  Peek's  Kill 
there  to  join  the  Field  Officers  who  shall  be  ap 
pointed  to  command  them.  The  Companies  to 
consist  as  nearly  as  may  be  of  Sixty  two  Privates 
&  to  have  a  Captain  &  two  Lieutenants. 
Given  under  my  Hand  at  Poughkeepsie  this  3d 
Day  of  April  1777. 

GEO.  CLINTON,  B.  Gen. 

Colonel  Ludington  appears  at  this  time  not  to  have 
been  among  those  called  to  duty  at  Peekskill,  but  to 

C86] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

have  been  left  for  a  few  weeks  among  those  "not  in 
actual  service"  who  were  to  act  under  Nathaniel 
Sackett,  as  already  related,  for  the  suppression  of 
conspiracies.  The  call  to  duty  was  not  very  well 
responded  to  by  the  other  officers  and  men.  The 
militia  had  been  in  the  field  in  the  early  part  of  the 
winter  longer  than  they  had  expected  to  be,  and  now, 
in  the  spring,  they  were  desirous  of  remaining  at 
home  as  much  as  possible  to  attend  to  the  season's 
work  on  their  farms.  This  reluctance  to  respond  to 
the  call  provoked  this  action  of  the  Convention,  taken 
at  Kingston  on  April  24 : 

WHEREAS  it  appears  that  a  great  Part  of 
the  militia  of  Dutchess  County  have  neglected  to 
obey  the  orders  of  General  Clinton  issued  in  con 
sequence  of  a  resolve  of  this  House,  for  calling 
out  a  part  of  the  militia  of  the  Counties  of  Ul 
ster,  Orange  and  Dutchess  to  Garrison  the  forts 
and  Guard  the  passes  in  the  Highlands. 

RESOLVED  that  Major  Lawrence  and  Mr. 
Zephaniah  Platt  be  &  they  are  hereby  appointed 
a  Committee  to  repair  forthwith  to  Dutchess 
County  to  enquire  into  the  reasons  of  such  neg 
lect,  that  they  use  their  utmost  endeavours  to  con 
vince  the  People  of  the  necessity  of  exerting 
themselves  at  this  critical  Juncture,  and  that  they 
make  report  to  this  Convention  with  all  conven 
ient  Dispatch  in  order  that  the  most  effectual 
measures  may  be  taken  to  induce  a  compliance 
with  the  aforesaid  Resolve. 

RESOLVED  that  General  Clinton  be  &  he 
hereby  is  empowered  to  make  such  disposition 

C873 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

with  respect  to  the  officers  of  the  militia  under  his 
Command  as  he  shall  judge  most  advansive  of 
the  Public  Service  and  where  any  extra  expense 
shall  accrue  in  consequence  of  this  Resolve  which 
cannot  be  considered  as  a  Continental  Charge 
this  Convention  will  pay  the  same. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes. 

ROBT.  BENSON,  Secry. 

There  was,  however,  no  question  concerning  the 
activity  and  zeal  of  Colonel  Ludington  at  this  time. 
On  April  25,  the  very  day  after  the  adoption  of  the 
foregoing  resolution  by  the  Convention,  a  force  of 
two  thousand  British  troops  landed  at  Compo,  near 
Fairfield,  Connecticut,  under  command  of  General 
Tryon,  the  former  British  governor  of  New  York, 
under  whom  Henry  Ludington  had  once  held  a  com 
mission.  It  marched  hastily  inland,  and  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  next  day  reached  D  anbury,  Connecticut, 
where  there  were  large  stores  of  provisions,  tents, 
etc.,  for  the  American  Army,  many  of  which  had 
been  sent  thither  from  Peekskill  for— as  was  sup 
posed — greater  security.  Not  only  these,  but  also 
most  of  the  private  houses  in  the  town,  were  at  once 
set  afire,  while  the  soldiers  made  themselves  drunk 
with  looted  spirits,  and  gave  themselves  up  to  an 
unrestrained  orgy.  It  was  one  of  the  most  brutal 
and  disgraceful  performances  of  British  arms  in  all 
the  war,  and  was  unhesitatingly  denounced  as  such 
by  self-respecting  British  officers.  It  does  not  appear 
that  the  raid  had  any  other  object  than  the  destruc- 

C88] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

tion  of  Danbury,  or  the  stores  at  that  place,  for  as 
soon  as  the  soldiers  could  be  sufficiently  sobered  up 
thereafter,  a  retreat  toward  the  British  shipping  on 
the  Sound  was  begun.  But  on  the  American  side  the 
incident  gave  occasion  for  one  of  the  most  thrilling 
and  gallant  exploits  of  the  war. 

It  was  on  Friday  afternoon  that  the  landing  was 
made  at  Compo,  and  it  was  on  Saturday  afternoon 
that  Danbury  was  burned.  Patriot  messengers  rode 
at  top  speed  in  three  directions — toward  New  Haven 
to  hasten  Generals  Arnold  and  Wooster,  who  were 
already  on  their  way;  to  meet  General  Silliman,  to 
expedite  his  juncture  with  the  others;  and  to  Freder- 
icksburgh  to  tell  the  news  to  Colonel  Ludington,  that 
he  might  furnish  the  troops  which  the  generals  would 
need.  Railroads,  telegraphs  and  other  annihilators 
of  time  and  space  were  unknown  in  those  days.  But 
the  personal  factor,  which  after  all  dominates  all  the 
problems  of  this  world,  was  active  and  effective.  At 
four  o'clock  Danbury  was  fired.  At  eight  or  nine 
o'clock  that  evening  a  jaded  horseman  reached  Col 
onel  Ludington's  home  with  the  news.  We  may 
imagine  the  fire  that  flashed  through  the  veteran's 
veins  at  the  report  of  the  dastardly  act  of  his  former 
chief.  But  what  to  do?  His  regiment  was  dis 
banded,  its  members  scattered  at  their  homes,  many 
at  considerable  distances.  He  must  stay  there,  to 
muster  all  who  came  in.  The  messenger  from  Dan- 
bury  could  ride  no  more,  and  there  was  no  neighbor 
within  call.  In  this  emergency  he  turned  to  his 

C89] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

daughter  Sibyl,  who,  a  few  days  before,  had  passed 
her  sixteenth  birthday,  and  bade  her  to  take  a  horse, 
ride  for  the  men,  and  tell  them  to  be  at  his  house  by 
daybreak.  One  who  even  now  rides  from  Carmel  to 
Cold  Spring  will  find  rugged  and  dangerous  roads, 
with  lonely  stretches.  Imagination  only  can  picture 
what  it  was  a  century  and  a  quarter  ago,  on  a  dark 
night,  with  reckless  bands  of  "Cowboys"  and  "Skin 
ners"  abroad  in  the  land.  But  the  child  performed 
her  task,  clinging  to  a  man's  saddle,  and  guiding  her 
steed  with  only  a  hempen  halter,  as  she  rode  through 
the  night,  bearing  the  news  of  the  sack  of  D anbury. 
There  is  no  extravagance  in  comparing  her  ride  with 
that  of  Paul  Revere  and  its  midnight  message.  Nor 
was  her  errand  less  efficient  than  his.  By  daybreak, 
thanks  to  her  daring,  nearly  the  whole  regiment  was 
mustered  before  her  father's  house  at  Fredericks- 
burgh,  and  an  hour  or  two  later  was  on  the  march  for 
vengeance  on  the  raiders.  They  were  a  motley  com 
pany,  some  without  arms,  some  half  dressed,  but  all 
filled  with  a  certain  berserk  rage.  That  night  they 
reached  Redding,  and  joined  Arnold,  Wooster  and 
Silliman.  The  next  morning  they  encountered  the 
British  at  Ridgefield.  They  were  short  of  ammuni 
tion  and  were  outnumbered  by  the  British  three  to 
one.  But  they  practised  the  same  tactics  that  Paul 
Revere's  levies  at  Lexington  and  Concord  found  so 
effective.  Their  scattering  sharpshooter  fire  from 
behind  trees  and  fences  and  stone  walls,  harassed  the 
British  sorely,  and  made  their  retreat  to  their  ships 

[90H 


THE   REVOLUTION 

at  Compo  resemble  a  rout.    Xor  were  instances  of  in 
dividual  heroism  in  conflict  lacking.    Arnold  had  his 
horse  shot  under  him  as,  almost  alone,  he  furiously 
charged  the  enemy,  and  the  gallant  Wooster  received 
a  wound  from  which  he  died  a  few  days  later.    There 
w^ere  far  greater  operations  in  the  war  than  this,  but 
there  was  scarcely  one  more  expeditious,  intrepid  and 
successful.     Writing  of  it  to  Gouverneur  Morris, 
Alexander  Hamilton  said:  "I  congratulate  you  on 
the  Danbury  expedition.    The  stores  destroyed  there 
have  been  purchased  at  a  pretty  high  price  to  the 
enemy.    The  spirit  of  the  people  on  the  occasion  does 
them  great  honor — is  a  pleasing  proof  that  they  have 
lost  nothing  of  that  primitive  zeal  with  which  they 
began  the  contest,  and  will  be  a  galling  discourage 
ment  to  the  enemy  from  repeating  attempts  of  the 
kind.  .  .  .  The  people  of  New  York  considered  the 
affair  in  the  light  of  a  defeat  to  the  British  troops." 
It  was  not  long  before  there  was  a  still  more 
serious  menace  than  the  Danbury  raid.     In  June, 
1777,  there  were  indications  that  the  British  were 
planning  anew  to  gain  possession  of  the  Hudson 
River,  and  thus  unite  their  own  northern  and  south 
ern  forces  while  dividing  the  eastern  from  the  middle 
and  southern  colonies.     Colonel  Ludington  and  his 
regiment  were  therefore  summoned  to  Peekskill,  to 
strengthen  the  defenses  of  the  Highlands,  and  it 
was  not  without  some  difficulty  that  he  was  enabled 
to  respond  to  the  call.    Some  of  his  men  had  become 
half  mutinous.     They  had  been  willing  enough  to 

[913 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

rush  to  D  anbury,  but  now,  in  the  busy  time  of  the 
early  summer,  they  objected  to  leaving  their  farms 
when  there  was  no  enemy  actually  in  sight.  The 
same  trouble  was  experienced  by  the  other  militia 
commanders.  On  this  occasion  the  period  of  service 
at  Peekskill  was  short.  But  on  July  1,  Washington 
wrote  to  Clinton  that  the  British  were  believed  to  be 
operating  against  Ticonderoga  and  its  dependencies ; 
that  Howe  was  preparing  to  evacuate  the  Jerseys  to 
cooperate  with  the  northern  army,  and  that  there 
was  danger  of  a  sudden  attack  upon  the  Highlands 
and  the  passes  of  the  Hudson.  He  urged  therefore, 
in  the  strongest  manner,  that  all  available  militia 
should  be  called  out  to  strengthen  the  garrisons  at 
Peekskill  and  other  places  on  the  river.  The  next 
day  Governor  Clinton  reported  the  gist  of  this  letter 
to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  adding  that  in  conse 
quence  thereof  he  had  "issued  Orders  to  Colonels 
Brinckerhoff,  Ludington,  Umphrey  &  Freeze  of 
Dutchess  County  to  march  their  Regiments  to 
Peek's  Kill."  But  the  result  was  not  altogether  sat 
isfactory.  The  men  were  ready  enough  for  active 
service;  but  they  demurred  at  waiting  idly  in  the 
camp  while  their  farms  at  home  were  suffering.  On 
July  9,  Clinton,  in  a  quandary,  wrote  from  Fort 
Montgomery  to  the  president  of  the  Convention : 

The  Militia  which  I  ordered  to  this  Post  & 
who  came  in  with  great  Expedition  almost  to  a 
Man  according  to  Custom  begin  to  be  extreamly 
uneasy.  They  want  to  go  Home,  their  Corn  is 

C92] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

suffering,  their  Harvest  coming  on,  and  they 
cant  see  that  it  is  likely  there  will  be  any  Thing 
for  them  to  do  here  suddenly.  They  have  been 
frequently  on  the  Dunderbergh  to  look  down  the 
River  &  cant  see  a  single  Vessel  in  it ;  What  shall 
I  do  with  them  ? 

If  I  consent  to  their  going  Home  they  wrill  Re 
turn  when  ordered  again  writh  great  Chearful- 
ness.  If  I  dont,  they  will  go  (many  of  them  at 
least)  without  Leave.  I  dont  know  what  to  do 
with  them  &,  therefore,  shall  not  do  any  Thing, 
without  your  Honor's  Directions  which  I  should 
be  glad  to  have  this  afternoon. 

As  a  result  of  this  appeal,  General  Putnam  on 
July  11  issued  an  order  to  the  effect  that,  "consider 
ing  the  Busy  Season  of  the  Year,  &  how  important  it 
is  to  the  public  as  well  as  to  themselves  that  the 
Militia  be  at  home  in  their  Business  at  this  Time,  and 
not  being  wanted,  Altho'  he  cannot  say  how  soon  they 
may  be,"  the  three  regiments  which  first  responded 
to  the  call,  to  wit,  Ludington's,  Humphrey's  and 
Brinckerhoff's,  were  "dismissed  with  the  General's 
thanks  for  their  Alertness  and  for  their  good  Ser 
vices,  relying  upon  it  that  the  Zeal  &  Ardor  they  have 
shewn  in  the  great  Cause  we  are  engaged  in  will 
prompt  them  to  turn  out  without  (sic)  the  utmost 
Alacrity  on  all  future  Occasions." 

Another  occasion  was  quickly  supplied  by  the 
British,  with  their  activities  at  the  north  and  their  re 
newed  menace  against  the  Highlands.  On  June  30, 
General  Howe  evacuated  New  Jersey,  moved  into 

C93] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Staten  Island,  and  prepared  to  advance  up  the  Hud 
son.  On  July  1,  Burgoyne  with  his  army  appeared 
before  Ticonderoga,  and  on  July  6,  the  Americans 
evacuated  that  fortress.  Washington,  then  at  Mor- 
ristown,  wrote  on  July  10  to  the  president  of  the 
Continental  Congress:  "In  consequence  of  the  prob 
ability  that  General  Howe  will  push  against  the 
Highland  passes  to  cooperate  with  General  Bur 
goyne,  I  shall,  by  the  advice  of  my  officers,  move  the 
army  from  hence  to-morrow  morning  towards  the 
North  River."  Though  delayed  somewhat  by  bad 
weather,  he  proceeded  to  Sufferns,  and  thence  to 
Galloway's,  in  Orange  County,  New  York,  where  he 
remained  until  he  ascertained  that  Howe  was  not 
going  up  the  river,  but  was  really  making  a  feint  to 
cover  a  swift  dash  upon  Philadelphia.  Accordingly, 
on  July  23,  Washington's  army  was  set  in  motion 
toward  the  Delaware,  leaving  the  Highlands  to  their 
local  defenders.  The  inefficient  and  half  treacher 
ous  Gates  presently  superseded  Schuyler  in  com 
mand  of  the  American  Army  at  the  north  after  the 
disastrous  affair  at  Ticonderoga,  and  it  is  probable 
that  Washington  doubted  his  ability  to  cope  with 
Burgoyne.  At  any  rate,  despite  what  he  regarded 
as  Howe's  "unaccountable  abandonment"  of  Bur 
goyne,  Washington  regarded  the  latter's  movements 
with  much  apprehension,  and  frequently  warned 
Clinton  at  the  Highlands  to  be  on  his  guard  against 
him.  On  July  31,  he  urged  Clinton  to  call  out  the 
militia  to  reinforce  the  garrisons,  and  Clinton  wrote 

[9411 


THE   REVOLUTION 

as  follows  to  the  Committee  of  Safety,  a  letter  which 
throws  much  light  upon  the  embarrassments  from 
which  he  suffered : 

The  Proportion  to  be  furnished  by  this  State 
is  500  and  it  shall  be  my  first  Business  to  issue  the 
necessary  Orders  for  march 'g  them  to  the  respec 
tive  stations  for  which  they  are  intended. 

I  am  nevertheless  apprehensive  that  I  shall 
find  it  extremely  difficult  to  compleat  even  this 
small  Number.  The  Continental  Pay  and  Ra 
tions  being  far  below  the  wages  given  for  ordi 
nary  Labor  the  Difference  becomes  a  Tax  ren 
dered  by  personal  Service  and  as  the  Train  Band 
List  from  the  Exemptions  arising  from  Age  Of 
fice  &  other  Causes  consists  chiefly  of  the  Mid 
dling  &  lower  Class  of  People  this  extraordinary 
Tax  is  altogether  paid  by  them. 

Add  to  this  that  unless  a  proportionate  Num 
ber  is  called  out  of  each  County  which  in  most 
Cases  is  inexpedient  the  County  affording  the 
most  Men  is  upon  the  same  Principle  charged 
with  a  Tax  to  which  the  other  Parts  of  the  Com 
munity  do  not  contribute. 

These  Reasons  are  so  clear  as  to  be  generally 
understood  and  complained  of  by  the  Militia  and 
unless  those  exercising  the  Legislative  Power  of 
the  State  shall  in  their  Wisdom  devise  some  Plan 
in  which  those  Inconveniences  will  be  obviated 
and  the  Militia  Duty  become  more  equal  I  am  ex 
tremely  apprehensive  that  any  Orders  for  calling 
Detachments  to  the  Field  for  a  limited  Time  will 
not  hereafter  be  so  duly  obeyed  as  the  Nature  of 
Military  Command  and  the  good  of  the  service 
absolutely  requires.  It  wo'd  be  needless  to  ob- 

[95] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

serve  to  you,  Gentlemen,  that  tho  my  Office  as 
Governor  gives  me  the  Command  of  the  Militia  I 
am  not  vested  with  authority  to  promise  even  the 
ordinary  Continental  Pay  and  subsistance  to  any 
greater  Number  of  Men  than  those  required  of 
me  by  his  Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
whose  Requisition  entitles  those  who  are  called 
into  actual  Service  in  Consequence  thereof  to  a 
Compensation  from  the  Continent  at  large. 

In  consequence  of  this  letter  of  Clinton's  the  Com 
mittee  of  Safety  the  same  day  ordered  that  "Con 
tinental  pay  and  rations  be  advanced  on  behalf  of  the 
Continent,  to  all  such  Militia  as  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  shall  think  proper  to  call  out."  Colonel 
Ludington  was  not  included  in  the  summons  to  the 
Highlands,  but  was  selected  by  Clinton  for  other 
and,  as  it  proved,  actually  more  active  service,  in  the 
borderland  of  Westchester  County.  Clinton  wrote 
to  him  as  follows,  from  Kingston,  on  August  1, 1777 : 

The  Operations  of  the  Enemy  ag't  the  State 
to  the  Northward  as  well  as  the  exposed  Situa 
tion  of  some  of  the  Southern  Counties  to  the  In 
cursions  of  the  Enemy  from  that  Quarter,  render 
it  expedient  to  call  into  actual  Service,  a  very 
considerable  Proportion  of  the  Militia  in  the 
Classing  of  the  different  Regiments  for  these 
Services  your  Regiment  &  Colo.  Fields'  with  the 
other  Regiments  of  W.  Chester  County  are  to 
furnish  310  Men,  including  Non  Commissioned 
Officers  &  Privates  properly  officered  armed  & 
accoutred,  as  you  '1  see  by  the  inclosed  Order; 
and,  as  you  are  appointed  to  take  the  command  of 

C963 


THE   REVOLUTION 

this  Detachment,  I  desire  that  you  will,  immedi 
ately  upon  the  Receipt  hereof,  direct  and  forward 
to  the  Commanding  Officers  of  the  other  Regi 
ments  who  are  to  furnish  Men  towards  this  De- 
tachm't,  one  of  the  inclosed  Resolutions  &  Orders, 
and  exert  yourself  in  having  them  raised  with  all 
possible  Expedition  and  march  them  to  such  Sta 
tions  in  W.  Chester  County  as  will  tend  most  to 
the  Protection  of  the  Inhabitants  and  best  con 
duce  to  the  Public  Safety.  Taking  your  Direc 
tions  occasionally  from  the  Command'g  Officer 
at  Peeks  Kill. 

The  Inclosed  Resolutions  of  the  Council  of 
Safety  subjecting  Exempts  to  a  Proportion  of 
the  Common  Burthen  will,  I  hope,  enable  you  to 
carry  these  Orders  into  Execution  with  greater 
Ease,  especially  as  every  Other  Regt.  in  the  State 
will  furnish  an  equal  if  not  a  greater  Number  of 
Men  for  the  Service. 

I  am  &c. 
Colo.  Ludington.  (G.  C.) 

The  Troops  will  be  allowed  Continental  Pay 
&  Rations  &  a  Bounty  to  be  raised  agreeable  to 
the  within  Resolve  from  the  Fines  levied  on  the 
Exempts  refusing  Service. 

A  few  days  later  another  alarm  was  caused  by  the 
uncertainty  which  attended  the  movements  of  the 
British  fleet,  which,  after  sailing  from  New  York  to 
the  capes  of  the  Delaware  as  if  to  attack  Phila 
delphia,  suddenly  put  to  sea  again  and  disappeared 
for  a  time.  Washington  communicated  his  observa 
tions  and  suspicions  to  Clinton,  and  Clinton,  on 

C97] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

August  5,  countermanded  his  orders  to  Ludington  in 
the  following  letter : 

By  Dispatches  just  Rec'd  from  his  Excellency 
Genl.  Washington  dated  at  Chester  in  Pensyl- 
vania  1st  Aug't,  I  am  informed  that  the  Enemy's 
Fleet  have  left  the  Capes  of  Delaware  &  are 
steering  Eastward  &  his  Excellency  is  fully  of 
Opinion  they  intend  (proceeding)  up  Hudson's 
River.  From  this  Intelligence  &  the  great  Pre 
parations  making  by  the  Enemy  at  Kings  Bridge 
for  an  Expedition,  I  have  not  the  least  Doubt  but 
that  their  Designs  are  against  this  Quarter  &  by 
vigorous  Exertion  they  hope  to  join  their  two 
Armies  before  ours  can  arrive  to  oppose  them. 
His  Excellency  is  apprehensive  of  this  also  &  has 
requested  me  to  call  out  all  the  Militia  of  this 
State  to  oppose  the  Enemy  till  he  can  arrive  with 
his  Army.  You  will,  therefore,  on  receipt  hereof 
with  the  utmost  Expedition  march  your  Regt.  to 
Fort  Montgomery  compleatly  armed  and  ac 
coutred,  leaving  the  frontier  Companies  at  Home 
embodied  &  on  Duty  to  guard  ag't  any  small 
Parties  of  Tories  or  Indians.  I  mean  to  repair  to 
the  Fort  with  all  Expedition  &  take  the  Com 
mand. 

Clinton  then  notified  Putnam  at  Peekskill  that  he 
had  ordered  Ludington's  and  also  Field's  and 
BrinckerhofFs  regiments  to  join  him  forthwith,  and 
on  August  9  reported  this  action  to  Washington. 
But  it  was  one  thing  to  order  and  another  thing  to 
have  the  order  fulfilled.  The  militia  exhibited  their 
former  reluctance  to  go  into  camp  unless  the  enemy 

[98] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

were  actually  in  sight.  This  applies,  however,  to  the 
other  regiments  rather  than  to  Colonel  Ludington's. 
No  complaint  of  his  inactivity  or  his  inability  to  fur 
nish  his  quota  of  men  appears.  But  on  August  20, 
Colonel  Humphrey  reported  that  his  regiment  was 
unwilling  to  march  northward,  meaning,  no  doubt, 
to  go  up  the  river  beyond  the  Highlands  to  the  aid  of 
Gates  against  Burgoyne,  as  there  was  some  desperate 
talk  of  doing ;  and  John  Jay  and  Gouverneur  Morris 
reported  that  Gates's  army  could  hope  for  no  militia 
reinforcements  excepting  from  Albany  County,  and 
that  garrisons  should  be  provided  for  the  Highland 
forts  when  the  terms  of  enlistment  of  the  militia 
should  expire.  This  was  the  more  essential  as  the 
regular  garrisons  had  largely  been  sent  north  to  aid 
Gates.  A  little  later,  on  September  4,  Colonel  Dirck 
Brinckerhoff  wrote  from  Fishkill  to  Clinton  in  an 
swer  to  some  strictures  as  follows : 

Sir, 

You  Blame  me  in  Your  Letter  for  Disobeying 
the  Orders  I  first  Receiv'd  for  all  the  Militia  to 
go  to  Peekskill,  but  it  was  by  Consent  of  General 
Putnam,  that  Only  part  should  go,  and  be  Re- 
lie  v'd  by  the  Same  number  from  time  to  time  in 
Such  Manner  as  I  thought  proper,  which  has 
Strictly  been  done. 

Agreeable  to  your  Last  I  have  Order'd  half  the 
Militia  out,  but  it  is  allmost  impossible  to  get 
them  to  go,  on  account  of  the  Exempts  not  going, 
Aledging  this  is  not  a  General  Alarum;  there 
fore,  should  be  Glad  of  Some  further  Regulation 

[993 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

in  that  Respect,  and  Possitive  Orders  from  you 
how  to  act  in  that  affair,  I  am  Sir, 

Your  Ob't.  Hble.  Serv't 

DIRCK  BRINCKERHOFF. 
To  His  Excellency  George  Clinton  Esq. 

Colonel  Ludington,  meanwhile,  was  busy  else 
where,  in  another  department  of  his  public  duties,  of 
which  we  shall  speak  hereafter.  At  first  commis 
sioned  to  serve  in  Westchester  County,  then  ordered 
to  the  Highlands,  he  seems  to  have  been  permitted  to 
remain  in  Westchester  and  lower  Dutchess  counties, 
where  some  strong  hand  was  sorely  needed.  But  on 
September  15  came  news  of  the  battle  of  the  Brandy- 
wine,  in  which  the  Stars  and  Stripes  was  first  un 
furled  in  battle,  but  in  which  the  Americans  were  de 
feated.  The  news  was  ominous  of  the  fall  of  Phila 
delphia  and  of  the  martyrdom  of  Valley  Forge,  and 
it  caused  some  consternation  along  the  Hudson. 
Clinton  at  once  ordered  eleven  New  York  militia 
regiments  to  reinforce  the  Highlands,  among  them 
Colonel  Ludington's,  which  was  to  proceed  at  once  to 
Peekskill  to  serve  under  General  Putnam.  For  the 
first  time  Ludington  seems  to  have  had  some  diffi 
culty  in  complying  with  orders,  for,  on  September 
29,  we  find  Clinton  writing  to  him,  as  well  as  to  the 
other  colonels  of  militia,  expressing  surprise  at  the 
circumstance  that,  although  he  had  ordered  the  whole 
of  the  regiments  to  reinforce  the  garrisons,  not  more 

[100] 


THE  REVOLUTION 

than  300  men  of  six  regiments  had  responded;  and 
adding  a  peremptory  command  that  one  half  of 
each  regiment  should  go  into  service  immediately 
for  one  month,  and  then  be  relieved  by  the  other  half. 
There  was  indeed  cause  for  these  preparations,  for 
the  British  were  at  last  actually  beginning  their  ad 
vance  up  the  Hudson  in  aid  of  the  hard-pressed 
Burgoyne,  though  all  too  late  to  save  him.  At  the 
beginning  of  October  the  British  fleet  appeared  in 
the  Hudson,  and  on  October  4  a  landing  was  made 
at  Tarrytown.  Of  what  occurred  there,  we  have  two 
contemporary  accounts.  One  was  given  in  the  New 
York  "Journal"  of  May  11,  1778,  by  one  of  the  gar 
rison  of  Fort  Montgomery,  which,  as  we  shall  see, 
was  presently  captured  by  the  British.  "On  Satur 
day  night,"  says  that  narrator,  "we  had  advice  that  a 
large  number  of  ships,  brigs,  armed  vessels,  &c.,  had 
arrived  at  Tarrytown,  where  they  had  landed  a  con 
siderable  body  of  men,  supposed  to  be  about  one 
thousand,  and  had  advanced  toward  the  plains.  Col 
onel  Lutlington  being  posted  there  with  about  five 
hundred  militia,  they  sent  in  a  flag  to  him  requiring 
him  to  lay  down  his  arms  and  surrender  himself  and 
men  prisoners  of  war.  Whilst  he  was  parleying  with 
the  flag  they  endeavored  to  surround  him,  which  he 
perceiving  ordered  his  men  to  retreat.  The  British 
then  returned  to  their  shipping,  and  the  next  morn 
ing  we  had  advice  of  their  being  under  sail,  and  com 
ing  up  as  far  as  King's  Ferry."  The  "Colonel  Lut 
lington"  referred  to  was,  of  course,  Henry  Luding- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

ion.  By  "the  plains"  it  is  to  be  supposed  White 
Plains  was  meant,  that  village  being  distant  from 
Tarrytown  about  seven  miles. 

The  second  account,  much  more  circumstantial 
and  authoritative,  is  that  of  Colonel  Ludington  him 
self  in  his  report  to  General  Putnam.  He  was  at 
that  time  stationed  at  Wright's  Mills,  between  Tar 
rytown  and  White  Plains,  guarding  the  inhabitants 
from  the  depredations  of  Tory  and  Indian  maraud 
ers.  He  wrote  to  General  Putnam  as  follows : 


Sir.  I  must  acquaint  you  of  my  yousage  in 
this  place.  I  find  the  militia  was  to  join  and  I 
have  not  had  the  assistance  of  one  man.  you 
must  well  Remember  you  ordered  Capt  Dean 
and  Capt  Stephens.  Stephens  I  never  have  seen. 
Dean  I  showed  your  order  and  Rote  a  few  days 
ago  Begging  him  to  assist  me  scouting.  I  have 
inclosed  his  answer  to  me.  You  must  not  depend 
too  much  upon  my  little  party,  if  I  am  to  gard 
the  inhabitants  I  must  be  Reinforced  speadily  or 
shall  be  obliged  to  post  my  men  in  some  Better 
place  of  Security 

and  am  Sir  Your  obedient 
Humble  Servant 

HENRY  LUDINGTON 

3  oclock  October  4th  1777 
at  Rites  mills 

P.  S.     I  beleive  the  inhabitants  are  entirely 
stript  where  they  go. 


J    ^ 


THE   REVOLUTION 

Honoured  Sir:  in  haste  I  am  to  acquaint  you 
that  they  came  up  Last  night  with  2  frigets  and 
five  or  six  Royale  and  tenders  and  about  40  flat 
Bottommed  boats  and  landed  about  3  thousand 
men  under  the  command  of  governor  Tryon. 
They  immediately  took  the  heights  above  Tarry- 
town  and  from  thence  kept  the  Heights  until  they 
thought  they  had  got  above  our  party.  But 
Luckily  we  had  got  above  them  and  paused  at 
mr  Youngses  where  we  thought  Best  to  move 
towards  them  where  we  were  in  open  view  of 
them  and  found  them  vastly  superior  to  us  in 
numbers  and  moved  off  to  Rights  mills,  Having 
no  asistance  more  than  our  Little  party  belong 
ing  to  our  Regiment.  I  found  on  our  Retreat 
before  we  got  back  to  Youngses  they  had  sent 
forward  a  flag,  But  found  that  was  in  view  of 
trapping  us  as  they  had  flanking  parties  who  we 
discovered  in  order  to  surround  us.  But  after 
clearing  the  Regiment  I  rode  Back  and  met  the 
flag  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  their  main  body. 
The  purport  of  his  errand  was  that  governor 
Tryon  Had  sent  him  to  acquaint  me  that  if  we 
would  give  up  our  arms  and  submit  they  would 
show  us  mersy  or  otherways  they  were  deter 
mined  to  take  us  and  strip  the  contre  (country). 
Sent  in  answer  that  as  Long  as  we  had  a  man 
alive  I  was  determined  to  oppose  them  and  they 
might  come  on  as  soon  as  they  pleased.  We  have 
not  lost  a  man  and  the  last  move  of  the  enemy 
was  from  Youngses  towards  the  plains. 

N.  B.  the  maj.-is  Gone  home  on  furlow 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

This  report  is  unquestionably  authentic,  although 
the  "P.  S."  has  no  address,  date  nor  signature,  and 
is  on  a  separate  sheet  of  paper  from  the  letter  and 
the  "N.  B."  But  it  is  in  Henry  Ludington's  hand 
writing,  precisely  the  same  as  the  signed  letter,  and 
is  on  precisely  the  same  kind  of  paper.  Doubtless, 
then,  the  "P.  S."  was  hurriedly  written  after  the  let 
ter,  the  British  attack  having  occurred  between  the 
two  writings,  and  was  enclosed  with  the  letter  with 
out  taking  time  to  sign  it  in  any  way.  The  MSS. 
were  in  the  possession  of  the  late  Douglas  Putnam, 
of  Harmar,  Ohio,  a  great-grandson  of  General  Put 
nam,  and  were  left  by  him  to  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Francke  H.  Bosworth,  of  New  York.  It  is  interest 
ing  to  observe  that  it  was  with  his  old  chief,  Tryon, 
that  Ludington  had  on  this  occasion  to  deal  again. 
He  estimates  the  number  of  the  British  three  times 
as  high  as  does  the  other  and  less  authoritative  chron 
icler,  and  is  probably  more  nearly  correct.  It  may 
be  assumed  that  the  former  statement  that  he  had 
"about  five  hundred  militia"  was  much  exaggerated. 
His  own  official  report  of  the  day  before  shows  his 
entire  force  at  Wright's  Mills  to  have  comprised 
"One  Colonel,  1  Lt.  Colonel,  5  Captains,  10  Leuten- 
nants,  no  Ensign,  no  Chaplain,  1  Adjutant,  1  Quar 
termaster,  1  Surgeon,  no  Surgeons  mate,  19  Ser 
geants,  9  Drummers  and  Fifers,  182  present  fit  for 
duty,  19  sick  present,  3  Sick  Absent,  19  on  com 
mand,  10  on  Furlough,  Total  233."  With  such  a 
mere  handful,  he  certainly  acquitted  himself  most 


THE  REVOLUTION 

creditably    against    the    vastly    superior    force    of 
Tryon. 

Putnam  was  at  Peekskill  for  the  express  purpose 
of  guarding  the  passage  up  the  river.  He  had  there 
about  600  regulars  and  a  much  larger  number  of 
militia.  Governor  George  Clinton  was  at  Fort 
Montgomery,  and  his  brother  James  Clinton  at  Fort 
Clinton,  with  combined  forces  variously  reported  at 
from  600  to  1200  men,  mostly  militia.  Putnam  had 
scout  boats  along  the  river,  and  an  elaborate  system 
of  scouts  on  land.  Yet,  says  General  De  Peyster, 
"the  British  Clinton  .  .  .  took  advantage  of  a 
fog,  transferred  his  troops  over  to  the  western  side  of 
the  river,  to  Stony  Point,  made  a  wonderful  march 
across  or  rather  around  the  Dunderberg  Mountain, 
and  carried  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery  by  as 
sault,  performing  the  most  brilliant  British  operation 
during  the  seven  years'  war."  George  Clinton  suf 
fered  heavy  losses  in  troops,  and  narrowly  escaped 
capture;  the  State  capital,  Kingston,  was  exposed 
to  the  enemy's  advance;  and  Putnam  retired  to  the 
mountains,  sending  word  to  Gates  that  he  must  pre 
pare  for  the  worst  as  he  could  not  prevent  the  enemy 
from  advancing  up  the  river  to  the  aid  of  Burgoyne. 
"The  enemy  can  go  to  Albany  with  great  expedition 
and  without  any  opposition."  In  the  presence  of  this 
disaster  two  things  were  uncommonly  fortunate  for 
the  American  cause.  One  was  that  Gates  was  not 
alone  in  the  north,  but  had  Arnold,  Schuyler,  and 
Morgan  with  him  to  brace  him  up.  The  other  was  that 

[105] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

the  British  did  not  attempt  to  go  on  up  to  Albany. 
After  garrisoning  Fort  Montgomery,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  returned  to  New  York.  On  October  15,  he 
sent  an  expedition,  under  General  Vaughan,  up  to 
Kingston,  and  the  next  day  burned  that  village,  the 
State  government  having  previously  fled  to  Pough- 
keepsie.  Other  ravages,  of  looting  and  burning, 
were  committed  along  the  river,  to  the  disgrace  of  the 
British  arms.  But  there  was  some  consolation  to  the 
stricken  patriots  in  the  news  that  the  very  day  after 
the  burning  of  Kingston,  Burgoyne,  beaten  by  Ar 
nold,  Schuyler,  and  Morgan,  surrendered  to  Gates 
with  all  his  army. 

During  the  winter  of  1777-78  Colonel  Ludington 
was  chiefly  busied  with  other  features  of  his  public 
duties,  and  appeared  little  in  the  field.  He  was  a 
valuable  adviser  to  the  State  government  on  military 
affairs,  and,  realizing  from  experience  the  great  diffi 
culty  of  maintaining  a  satisfactory  militia  service  in 
time  of  actual  warfare,  urged  the  formation  of  an 
other  regiment  of  regulars.  On  December  18,  Gov 
ernor  Clinton  referred  to  this  project  in  a  letter  to 
General  Putnam.  He  urged  the  necessity  of 
strengthening  the  defenses  of  the  Hudson  River,  and 
said  that  he  expected  the  Committee  of  Safety  at 
Poughkeepsie  in  a  few  days.  He  would  then  lay  be 
fore  them  the  proposal  for  a  new  regiment  of  reg 
ulars  and  added,  "I  should  be  glad  to  have  Colo.  Lud- 
ington's  Plan."  That  winter,  the  winter  of  Valley 
Forge,  was  a  hard  one  in  which  to  raise  recruits  of 

D06] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

any  kind,  especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  troops 
had  received  no  pay  for  their  services  for  a  long  time 
past.  Colonel  Ludington  felt  this  keenly,  and  on 
being  asked  by  Clinton  to  furnish  a  certain  number 
of  men  from  his  regiment  for  the  new  regiment  of 
regulars,  he  wrote  very  frankly  on  the  subject: 

Honoured  Sir,  I  am  under  the  Disagrable 
Nesesity  of  acqainting  you,  that  I  find  it  to  Be 
out  of  my  power  to  Comply  with  your  Orders  in 
Regard  of  Raising  the  Coto  (Quota)  of  men 
aloted  me  to  Raise  out  of  my  Regiment,  and  that 
for  Sundry  Reasons.  In  the  first  place,  the 
money  Raised  in  the  other  Regments  By  their 
asesments  amounts  to  one  Hundread  pounds 
Bounty  to  Each  Soldier  By  Reason  of  the  Ex 
empts  Being  able  and  among  whom  are  a  number 
of  Quakers.  But  it  is  not  the  Case  in  my  Reg- 
ment,  For,  By  the  Best  Computation  we  Can 
make,  we  Cannot  Raise  more  than  30  Dolars  a 
man,  though  I  would  not  Be  understood  that  we 
have  gone  through  with  the  asesments  and  that 
for  this  Reason :  the  act  for  asesing  the  Exempts 
Expresly  says  that  the  officers  who  aseses  the 
Exempts  Shall  Be  Freeholders,  and  I  have  not 
Such  an  officer  in  my  Regiment.  We  have  met 
Sundry  times  in  order  to  try  to  Raise  the  men 
and  I  yoused  my  Best  Endevours  that  they 
Should  Be  Raised,  But  I  have  not  an  officer  that 
will  asist  the  Exempts.  The  officers  tell  me  they 
posatively  will  not  Call  their  Companies  out  until 
they  get  pay  for  their  Past  Servises  in  order  to 
avoid  Service;  on  that  account  I  have  had  their 
pay  roles  maid  up  in  time  and  Signed  By  the  gen- 

C107] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

eral,  and  Have  weighted  on  the  pay  master  for 
the  money  Everry  few  Days,  and  yesterday  for 
the  Last  time,  and  He  then  told  He  had  no  pros 
pect  in  geting  the  money  in  Sum  months.  That 
Being  the  Case  I  am  Sory  I  must  Tell  your  Hon 
our  that  I  know  not  what  further  measures  to 
take  until  I  have  Sum  further  instructions  in  Re 
gard  of  the  matter.  It  is  my  opinion  that  we 
Shall  never  Raise  the  men,  unles  the  State  asists 
us  in  Raising  a  part  of  the  Bounty  and  the  Sol 
diers  gets  their  wages  for  their  past  Servises. 
Sir,  a  few  lines  from  your  Honour  in  Regard  of 
the  above,  By  way  of  instructions,  will  mutch  ob 
lige  your  Humble  Servant, 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 
Fredricksburgh  February  20th  1778. 

To  His  Excelency  George  Clinton  Esqr.  Gov 
ernor. 

P.  S.  Sir,  if  there  Be  a  late  act  past  in  Regard 
of  Raising  the  men  and  a  Bounty  for  them,  please 
to  Convey  the  Same  as  I  have  Had  no  opportu 
nity  of  acquainting  my  Self  with  it.  The  Returns 
of  the  Regment  you  Shall  Have  next  week, 
which  Should  Have  Had  Before  now,  Had  it 
not  Been  for  the  neglect  of  sum  of  the  Captains 
not  sending  in  their  Returns. 

Colonel  Ludington  had,  however,  rather  better 
success  in  holding  his  own  regiment  together  than 
did  some  other  colonels  of  militia,  as  the  following 
return  shows : 

[108] 


THE  REVOLUTION 


Return  of  the  Regiment  of  Militia  of  the 
County  of  Dutchess  and  State  of  New  York. 
Command'd  by  Collonel  Henry  Ludinton. 

Fredricksburgh  Precinct  March  23rd  1778. 


COMPANIES. 


Field 
Officers. 


Coram'd 
Officers. 


Staff 
Officers. 


l 


Non 
Comm'd. 


.  s 


74 
49 
58 

72 


John  Crane's  112—                    4    1    60 

David  Waterbury's  121                     4    1    57 

John  Haight's  121                    3    0    51 

Hezekiah  Meed's  1    2 

George  Lane's  1 

Nathaniel  Scribner's  1 

Joel  Meed's  1 
Total  Strength 

of  the  Regiment        |  |  7J12;   6                  26    6J421 

Colonel  Ludington  and  his  regiment  were  again 
called  to  the  defense  of  the  Hudson  at  Fishkill  in 
June,  1779,  on  the  alarm  caused  by  the  British 
seizure  of  Verplanck's  Point,  and  a  few  days  later 
returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Crom  Pond  to  resume  the 
local  police  work  which  formed  so  large  a  part  of 
their  duties.  There,  before  daylight  of  June  24,  they 
were  surprised  by  an  attack  of  about  two  hundred 
British  cavalry,  which  had  made  a  dash  all  the  way 
up  from  New  York.  Nearly  thirty  of  the  militia 
were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  sharp  skirmish  which 
ensued.  At  the  same  time  130  British  light  infantry 

[10911 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

came  across  from  Verplanck's  Point  and  made  a  de 
monstration  in  aid  of  the  cavalry.  On  another  occa 
sion  a  similar  attack  was  made  while  the  Americans 
were  at  breakfast,  close  by  the  church,  which  at  the 
time  was  used  as  an  arsenal. 

After  these  services  the  regiment  was  marched 
home  to  Fredericksburgh  and  for  a  time  disbanded. 
On  this  occasion  Colonel  Ludington  wrote  to  Clinton 
as  follows : 

Honoured  Sir,  I  embrace  this  opportunity  of 
acquainting  you  that  according  to  Colo.  Swart- 
wout's  orders  to  me  of  Yesterday  I  thought 
Proper  to  discharge  my  Regt  who  I  must  beg 
leave  to  acquaint  you  have  acted  with  the  greatest 
Spirrit  since  they  have  been  hear  and  have  gon 
home  with  a  full  determination  to  turn  out  at  a 
minute's  warning.  In  my  last  I  wrote  you  to 
know  the  mode  adopted  for  Punishing  those  who 
have  not  turned  out  according  to  their  being 
Warned,  for  I  am  highly  sensible  that  if  they  are 
not  brought  to  a  sevear  Punishment  it  will  give 
offence  to  those  Who  have  dun  their  Dutey.  I 
must  allso  Return  your  Excellency  thanks  for 
Recommending  to  me  Mr.  McClennen  who  has 
truley  answered  the  Character  I  have  had  of  him 
as  I  have  Experienced  his  services  in  Spiriting 
the  Militia  in  these  Parts  and  my  Regt  in  Par 
ticular.  I  remain  in  the  mean  time 

with  Respect  your  Excellency s  most  obedient 
Humble  Servt  HENEY  LumNTON> 

Fredh  Burgh  Juley  11, 1779. 
To  Governor  Clinton. 

C110] 


THE   REVOLUTION 

Later  in  the  same  year  a  radical  reorganization  of 
the  militia  forces  was  effected  under  the  following 
orders : 

Poughkeepsie  Oct.  llth,  1779. 
Brigade  Orders. 

Agreeable  to  General  Orders  of  the  10th  In 
stant  issued  by  his  Excellency  the  Govr.,  1078 
Men,  including  Non  Commissioned  Officers, 
drums  and  fifes,  are  to  be  Detached  out  of  Colo. 
Comdt.  Swartwout's  Brigade  of  Militia  to  Con 
tinue  in  Service  for  the  term  of  three  Months  un 
less  the  particular  service  for  which  they  are 
drawn  out  shall  be  sooner  Completed. 

The  Detachments  from  the  several  Regiments 
in  this  Brigade  to  be  as  follows,  viz.— 

From  Colo.  Graham's  Regt 196  Men 

Colo.  Frear's         do 156 

Colo.  Hopkins     do 192 

Colo.  Field's         do 117 

Colo.  Luddenton's  do 144 

Colo.  Van  Der  Burgh's  do       ....  118 

Colo.  Brinckerhoff's  do 155 

Total 1078 

The  above  Detachment  to  be  formed  into  Two 
Regiments  under  Command  of  Colos.  Graham 
and  Hopkins,  in  the  following  manner,  viz., 

The  Detachments  of  Colos.  Graham's,  Frear's, 
Van  Der  Burgh's  and  69  Men  of  Colo.  Field's 
Regiments  to  be  formed  into  one  Regiment  un 
der  Command  of  Colo.  Graham. 

The  Detachments  of  Colos.  Hopkins,  Ludden- 
ton's,  Brinckerhoff's,  and  48  Men  of  Colo.  Field's 

[111] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Regts.  to  be  formed  into  another  Regiment  under 
Command  of  Colo.  Hopkins. 

Colo.   Graham's  Field  Officers  to  be  Lieut. 
Colo.  Birdsall  and  Ma  jr.  Hill, 


Captains 

ssr- 

Hustid 


Lemuel  Conklin 
Hugh  Van  Kleeck 


T       .  ,T  .. 
Israel  Vail 


Subalterns. 
John  Seton 


Colo.  Frear's 
Regt. 


, 

Colo.  Van  Der  Burgh's 
Regt. 


Jonathan  Darling 
and  - 

Montgomery 
Weeks 
Hendnckson 
Van  Der  Bogart 

Tredwell 


Colo.  Field's 
Regt. 

Colo.  Hopkins  Field  Officers  are  Lieut.  Colo.  Griffen 
and  Majr.  Paine. 


n     4.  ?^D 


Wheeler 

Waters 

Talmadge 


Geo    Brinckerhoff 
Jno.VanBunschoten 


Barnum 


Colo   Hopkins 
RegL 


Subalterns. 
Wm.  Chamberlain 
Elijah  Parks 

Elliot 

Parley 
Jonas   Parks 

Hoskin 


Christian  Dubois 
Colo.  BrinckerhofPs    Abraham  Shults 


Regt. 

Colo.  Field's 
Regt< 


William  Swartwout 
Abraham  Hoogland 

Pliaiirller 


THE  REVOLUTION 

Colo.  Luddenton  and  his  officers  being  absent,  he 
will  with  advice  of  his  field  officers  nominate  and 
furnish  one  Captain  and  Three  Subalterns,  to 
join  Colo.  Hopkins  Regt. 

The  above  Detachments  to  be  Compleated  and 
at  the  place  of  Rendevous  without  Delay,  Com- 
pleatly  Equipped,  Agreeable  to  Genl.  Orders,  to 
which  the  most  strictest  attention  is  to  be  paid. 
By  Order  of  Colo.  Comdr.  Jac.  Swartwout 

HEND.  WYCKOFF  MB 

Thereafter  Colonel  Ludington  and  his  regiment 
were  frequently  engaged  in  important  work,  espe 
cially  during  the  time  of  doubt  and  dread  caused  by 
the  treason  of  Arnold,  and  in  the  operations  pre 
liminary  to  Washington's  epoch-making  march  from 
the  Hudson  to  the  Chesapeake.  But  those  services 
belonged  to  the  other  phases  of  public  duty  to  which 
reference  has  been  made  and  of  which  fuller  con 
sideration  must  be  reserved  for  another  chapter. 


CHS] 


CHAPTER  V 

SECRET  SERVICE 

A  NOTHER  part  of  Henry  Ludington's  services 
<L\.  to  his  country  during  the  Revolution  was  in 
timately  connected  with  that  little  known  under 
world  of  the  Secret  Service — the  men  who  take  their 
lives  in  their  hands  perhaps  more  perilously  than  the 
soldier  in  the  open  field,  who  have  no  stimulus  of 
martial  glory,  who  receive  no  public  recognition,  and 
whose  very  names  are  doomed  to  obscurity.  A  recent 
work  of  fiction,  one  of  the  best  "historical  novels"  of 
our  day— "The  Reckoning,"  by  Mr.  Robert  W. 
Chambers — gives  a  singularly  dramatic  and  con 
vincing  picture  of  the  work  of  a  Patriot  spy  in  New 
York  City  in  the  Revolution,  doing  work  which  was 
hateful  to  him  and  yet  which  was  of  the  highest  im 
portance  to  Washington  himself.  It  is  a  picture  as 
true  as  it  is  graphic.  An  earlier  work  dealing  with 
the  same  phase  of  Patriot  service,  "The  Spy,"  of 
Fenimore  Cooper,  has  long  been  familiar  to  the 
American  public,  and  it  has  generally  been  assumed 
that  its  hero,  "Harvey  Birch,"  was  an  actual  char 
acter,  drawn  from  life;  even  more  closely  than  the 
genius  of  "The  Pilot"  was  drawn  from  the  illustrious 
Paul  Jones.  Such  indeed  was  the  case,  and  with  the 


.  &A*  '• 


x, 


?  -.  x 


4  «"^'  "  •*< 


x         .     L7V—    /&> 


/,,-  ^f  >-?  ^"'  '*'''  ^*  — 

^    ,>^S^--fv 

^ 


Fac-simile  of  Letter  from  Nath'l  Sackett, 
a  DelEgatE  tn  the  "Pravincial  Cnngress  nf  the  State  nf  New  York,"  from 
Dutchess  County  and  member  of  the  Committee  an  Conspiracies. 


(Original  paper  in  possession  of  Charles  H.  Ludington,  New  York  City. 


SECRET  SERVICE 

original  of  "Harvey  Birch,"  Enoch  Crosby,  Colonel 
Ludington  was  intimately  associated.  Indeed,  be 
cause  of  his  familiarity  with  the  border-land  between 
the  British  and  American  lines,  and  also  because  of 
his  knowledge  and  judgment  of  men,  his  discretion, 
and  his  known  trustworthiness,  Colonel  Ludington 
was  selected,  by  Washington's  instructions,  to  choose 
the  man  or  men  who  should  do  the  secret  service  of 
the  Patriot  cause  within  the  British  lines  at  New 
York,  and  to  make  the  needed  arrangements  for  his 
dispatch  and  for  maintaining  communication  with 
him. 

Accordingly  we  find  Nathaniel  Sackett,  of  whom 
mention  has  already  been  made,  addressing  to  Col 
onel  Ludington  this  significant  letter : 

Sir 

you  will  proceed  on  inquiring  for  a  proper  per 
son  to  Remove  into  the  City  of  New  York,  in 
your  enquiry  you  are  not  to  make  any  use  of  my 
name  to  any  Person,  but  let  it  appear  to  be  an  act 
of  your  own  unless  you  find  one  that  in  your  opin 
ion  and  skill  is  possessed  of  abilitys  to  carry  a 
secret  matter  into  Execution,  upon  your  finding 
such  a  Person  and  his  consenting  to  Remove  into 
the  city  you  will  then  desire  him  to  come  with  you 
immediately  to  me,  and  you  will  enjoin  secrecy 
upon  and  direct  him  not  to  mention  either  his 
business  or  my  name  to  any  Person,  any  Person 
that  you  may  converse  with  in  a  confidential  man 
ner,  you  will  Lay  them  under  the  strongest 
Bonds  of  secrecy  in  your  Power,  and  lastly 
you  will  conduct  the  whole  Business  with  the 

[115] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

utmost  secrecy  in  your  Power  and  disclose  only 
such  parts  as  you  may  find  absolutely  necessary 
for  procuring  a  proper  Person  to  be  imployed 
for  Secret  Purposes  and  will  actually  Remove 
to  the  City  of  New  York. 

I  am  Sir  your  humble  Servt. 

NATHL.  SACKETT. 
Frederick  Burgh  Precinct, 

Feby.  14th,  1777. 
To  Colonel  Henry  Ludington  Esqr. 

The  purport  of  this  was  unmistakable.  Colonel 
Ludington  was  to  find  some  one  to  serve  as  a  spy  in 
New  York,  and  he  was  to  do  it  with  such  prudence 
and  tact  that  nobody  but  himself  would  seem  re 
sponsible  for  the  negotiations  until  they  had  pro 
ceeded  far  enough  to  give  assurance  of  the  fitness 
and  trustworthiness  of  the  man  selected  for  the 
work.  Colonel  Ludington  proceeded  promptly 
with  the  undertaking,  and  with  commendable  cau 
tion,  as  the  following  document  shows : 

I  do  most  solemnly  swear  by  Almighty  God 
Who  Liveth  forever  and  ever  that  I  will  well 
and  Truly  keep  every  matter  and  thing  Com 
mitted  to  my  Charge  by  Henry  Ludington  Esqr 
a  profound  secret,  and  that  I  will  not  Directly  or 
indirectly  either  by  words  or  actions  signs  or 
Tokens  or  by  any  other  ways  or  means  whatever 
disclose  or  divulge  the  same  to  any  manner  of 
Person  or  Persons  whatever. 

Benajah  Tubbs. 
Sworn  before  me  Feb.  23,  1777. 
C116] 


SECRET  SERVICE 

Benajah  Tubbs  was  a  well-approved  military 
comrade  of  Colonel  Ludington's,  as  appears  from 
the  records.  In  the  Correspondence  of  the  Pro 
vincial  Congress  of  New  York  there  appears  a  com 
munication  from  the  Dutchess  County  Committee  of 
Safety,  under  date  of  January  3,  1776,  recommend 
ing  Benajah  Tubbs  to  be  adjutant  of  "the  regiment 
of  militia  lately  commanded  by  Beverly  Robinson, 
Esq.,"  together  with  Henry  Ludington  as  2nd 
major  and  John  Kaine  as  colonel.  The  extent  of 
Tubbs 's  services  as  a  secret  agent  of  the  Revolution 
ary  government  does  not  appear,  nor  is  it  at  this  time 
possible  to  ascertain  how  many  and  what  other  men 
were  selected  by  Colonel  Ludington  for  such  peril 
ous  errands.  The  career  of  Enoch  Crosby  is,  how 
ever,  a  matter  of  specific  and  exact  record.  It  is  to 
be  found  related  not  only  in  the  fascinating  pages  of 
Cooper,  but  also  in  various  affidavits  made  by  Crosby 
himself,  and  others  who  knew  him,  at  the  time  of  his 
application  for  a  pension  for  his  services.  These 
papers,  which  have  been  transcribed  from  the  orig 
inals  by  Mr.  Patrick,  are  in  chief  as  follows : 

State  of  1ST.  Y. 
Co.  Putnam.       s 

On  this  15th  day  of  October  in  the  year  1832 
personally  appeared  before  the  Court  of  Oyer 
and  Terminer  and  General  Jail  Delivery  of  the 
said  County  of  Putnam,  Enoch  Crosby,  of  the 
town  of  South  East  in  the  Co.  of  Putnam  and 
State  of  New  York,  aged  82  years,  who  being- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

duly  sworn  according  to  law  doth  on  his  oath 
make  the  following  declaration  in  order  to  ob 
tain  the  benefit  of  the  Act  of  Congress  passed 
June  7,  1832: 

That  he  entered  the  service  of  the  U.  S.  under 
the  following  named  officers  and  served  as  herein 
stated : 

That  in  the  month  of  April  or  the  fore  part  of 
May,  1775,  he  enlisted  in  the  town  of  Danbury 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut  into  Captain  Noble 
Benedict's  Co.  in  Col.  Waterbury's  Regt.  of 
troops  to  defend  the  country  for  8  mos  service. 
The  regiment  met  at  Greenwich  in  Ct.,  staid 
there  two  or  three  months,  then  went  to  N.  Y. 
under  Genl.  Wooster.  Staid  in  N.  Y.  a  few 
weeks.  The  Regt.  was  then  carried  to  Albany  in 
sloops  &  went  directly  to  Half  Moon,  was  there 
a  few  days.  Went  thence  to  Ticonderoga, 
where  the  batteauxs  furnished  which  were  to  con 
vey  them  further.  Genl.  Schuyler  had  the  com 
mand  of  the  Isle  aux  Nois,  when  Genl.  S.  being 
unwell,  Genl.  Montgomery  had  the  command. 
The  declarant  went  off  to  St.  John  which  being 
by  us  at  time  besieged  by  the  Americans  in  about 
5  weeks  surrendered  and  the  fort  was  taken.  The 
decl.  then  went  to  Montreal,  that  he  came  from 
there  with  Col.  Waterbury's  regt  to  Albany, 
and  having  served  the  eight  mos.  was  at  that 
place  (Albany)  permitted  to  leave  the  regt.  and 
return  home,  and  that  he  had  no  written  dis 
charge.  And  this  dec.  further  says  that  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  mo.  of  Aug.,  1776,  he  enlisted 
into  the  regt.  commanded  by  Col.  Swartwout 
in  Fredericksburgh,  now  Kent,  in  the  County  of 
Putnam  and  started  to  join  the  army  at  Kings  - 

C118  ] 


SECRET  SERVICE 

bridge.  The  co.  had  left  F.  before  declarant 
started  &  he  started  alone  after  his  said  enlist 
ment  &  on  his  way  at  a  place  in  Westchester  Co. 
about  2  miles  from  Pine's  Bridge  he  fell  in  com 
pany  with  a  stranger  who  accosted  him  &  asked 
him  if  he  was  going  down.  Decl.  replied  he 
was.  The  stranger  then  asked  if  decl.  was  not 
afraid  to  venture  alone,  and  said  there  were 
many  rebels  below  and  he  would  meet  with  diffi 
culty  in  getting  down.  The  decl.  perceived  from 
the  observation  of  the  stranger  that  he  supposed 
the  decl.  intended  to  go  to  the  British,  and  will 
ing  to  encourage  that  misapprehension  and  turn 
it  to  the  best  advantage  he  asked  if  there  was  any 
mode  which  he  the  stranger  could  point  out  by 
which  the  decl.  could  get  through  safely.  The 
stranger  being  satisfied  the  decl.  was  willing  to 
join  the  British  Army  told  him  that  there  was  a 
company  raising  in  that  county  to  join  the  Brit 
ish  Army,  that  was  nearly  completed  and  in  a 
few  days  would  be  ready  to  go  down  and  that 
dec.  had  better  join  that  co.  and  go  down  with 
them.  The  stranger  finally  gave  to  decl.  his 
name,  it  was  Bunker,  and  told  the  decl.  where 
and  shewed  the  house  in  which  he  lived  and  also 
told  him  that  -  -  Fowler  was  to  be  the  Captain 
of  the  Co.  then  raising,  and  -  -  Kipp  Lieut. 
After  having  learned  this  much  from  Bunker 
the  Decl.  told  him  he  was  unwilling  to  wait  until 
the  Co.  could  be  ready  to  march  and  would  try 
and  get  through,  and  parted  from  him  on  his  way 
down  and  continued  until  night,  when  he  stopped 
at  the  house  of  a  man  who  was  called  Esy  Young, 
and  put  up  there  for  the  night.  In  the  course  of 
conversation  with  Esy  Young  in  the  evening 

[1193 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

decl.  learned  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Com. 
of  Safety  for  the  County  of  Westchester,  and  then 
communicated  to  him  the  information  he  had  ob 
tained  from  Mr.  Bunker.  Esy  Young  requested 
the  decl.  to  accompany  him  the  next  morning  to 
the  White  Plains  in  Westchester  Co.  as  the  Com. 
of  Safety  for  the  Co.  were  on  that  day  to  meet  at 
the  Court  House  in  that  place  The  next  morn 
ing  the  decl.  in  company  with  Esy  Young  went  to 
the  White  Plains  and  found  the  Com.  there  sit 
ting.  After  Esy  Young  had  had  an  interview 
with  the  Com.  the  decl.  was  sent  for  and  went  be 
fore  the  Com.  then  sitting  in  the  Court  Room 
and  there  communicated  the  information  he  had 
obtained  from  Bunker.  The  Com.  after  learning 
the  situation  of  decl.  that  he  was  a  soldier  enlisted 
in  Col.  Swartwout's  regiment  and  on  his  way  to 
join  it  engaged  to  write  to  the  Col.  and  explain 
why  he  did  not  join  it,  if  he  would  consent  to  aid 
in  the  apprehension  of  the  company  then  raising. 
It  was  by  all  thought  best  that  he  should  not  join 
the  regiment  but  should  act  in  a  different  char 
acter,  as  he  could  thus  be  more  useful  to  his  coun 
try.  He  was  accordingly  announced  to  Capt. 
Townsend,  who  was  then  at  the  White  Plains 
commanding  a  company  of  Rangers,  as  a  pris 
oner  and  the  Captain  was  directed  to  keep  him 
until  further  orders. 

In  the  evening  after  he  was  placed  as  a  pris 
oner  by  Capt.  Townsend  he  made  an  excuse  to  go 
out  and  was  accompanied  by  a  soldier,  over  a 
fence  into  a  piece  of  corn  then  nearly  or  quite  full 
grown.  As  soon  as  he  was  out  of  sight  of  the 
soldier  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  from  the  sol 
dier  and  when  the  soldier  hailed  him  to  return  he 


SECRET  SERVICE 

was  almost  beyond  hearing.  An  alarm  gun  was 
fired  but  decl.  was  far  from  danger.  In  the 
course  of  the  night  the  decl.  reached  the  house  of 
the  said  Bunker,  who  got  up  and  let  him  in. 
Decl.  then  related  to  Bunker  the  circumstances 
of  his  having  been  taken  prisoner,  of  his  going 
before  the  Com.  at  the  Court  House,  of  being 
put  under  the  charge  of  Capt.  Townsend,  and  of 
his  escape ;  that  he  had  concluded  to  avail  himself 
of  the  protection  of  the  Co.  raising  in  his  neigh 
borhood  to  get  down.  The  next  morning  Bunker 
went  with  decl.  and  introduced  him  as  a  good 
loyalist  to  several  of  the  Co.  Decl.  remained 
some  days  with  different  individuals  of  the  Co. 
and  until  it  was  about  to  go  down,  when  the  decl. 
went  one  night  to  the  house  of  Esy  Young  to 
give  information  of  the  state  and  progress  of  the 
Co.  The  distance  was  four  or  five  miles  from 
Bunker's.  At  the  house  of  Esy  Young  decl. 
found  Capt.  Townsend  with  a  great  part  of  his 
Co.,  and  after  giving  the  information  he  returned 
to  the  neighborhood  of  Bunker,  and  that  night 
decl.  with  a  great  part  of  the  Co.  which  was  pro 
posing  to  go  down  were  made  prisoners.  The 
next  day  all  of  them,  about  30  in  numbers,  were 
marched  to  the  White  Plains  and  remained  there 
several  days,  a  part  of  the  time  locked  up  in  jail 
with  the  other  prisoners.  The  residue  of  the  time 
he  was  with  the  Com.  The  prisoners  were  finally 
ordered  to  Fishkill  in  the  Co.  of  Dutchess,  where 
the  State  Convention  was  then  sitting.  The  decl. 
went  as  a  prisoner  to  Fishkill.  Capt.  Townsend 
with  his  Co.  of  Rangers  took  charge  of  the  Co.  at 
Fishkill.  A  Com.  for  Detecting  Conspiracies 
was  sitting,  composed  of  John  Jay,  afterwards 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Gov.  of  N.  Y.,  Zephaniah  Platt,  afterwards  first 
Judge  of  Dutchess  Co.,  Col.  Duer  of  the  Co.  of 
Albany,  and  a  Mr.  Sackett.  The  decl.  was  called 
before  that  Com.,  who  understood  the  character 
of  the  decl.  and  the  nature  of  his  services.  This 
the  Com.  must  have  learned  either  from  Capt. 
Townsend  or  from  the  Com.  at  White  Plains. 
The  decl.  was  examined  under  oath  and  his  ex 
amination  reduced  to  writing.  The  prisoners 
with  decl.  were  kept  whilst  decl.  remained  at 
Fishkill  in  a  building  which  had  been  occupied  as 
a  Hatter's  shop,  and  they  were  guarded  by  a  Co. 
of  Rangers  commanded  by  Capt.  Clark.  The 
decl.  remained  about  a  week  at  Fishkill,  when  he 
was  bailed  by  Jonathan  Hopkins.  This  was  done 
to  cover  the  character  in  which  the  decl.  acted. 
Before  the  decl.  was  bailed  the  Fishkill  Com.  had 
requested  him  to  continue  in  this  service,  and  on 
decl.  mentioning  the  fact  of  his  having  enlisted 
in  Col.  Swartwout's  company  and  the  necessity 
there  was  of  his  joining  it,  he  was  informed  that 
he  should  be  indemnified  from  that  enlistment, 
that  they  would  write  to  the  Col.  and  inform  him 
that  decl.  was  in  their  service. 

The  Com.  then  wished  decl.  to  undertake  a 
secret  service  over  the  river.  He  was  furnished 
with  a  secret  pass  which  was  accordingly  signed 
by  the  Com.,  which  is  now  lost,  and  directed  to  go 
to  the  house  of  Nicholas  Brauns,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Wappinger's  Creek,  who  would  take  him 
across  the  river,  and  there  to  proceed  to  the  house 
of  John  Russell,  about  ten  miles  from  the  river, 
and  make  such  inquiries  and  discoveries  as  he 
could.  He  proceeded  according  to  directions  to 
said  Brauns  and  from  thence  to  John  Russell, 


SECRET  SERVICE 

and  there  hired  himself  to  said  Russell  to  work 
for  him,  but  for  no  definite  time.  This  was  a 
neighborhood  of  Loyalists  and  it  was  expected 
that  a  company  was  there  raising  but  was  not 
completed.  Before  decl.  left  Russell  on  this  ser 
vice  a  time  was  fixed  for  him  to  recross  the  river 
and  give  information  to  some  one  of  the  Com. 
who  was  to  meet  him.  This  time  having  arrived 
and  the  Co.  not  being  completed  the  decl.  re- 
crossed  the  river  and  met  Zephaniah  Platt,  one  of 
the  Com.,  and  gave  him  all  the  information  he 
had  obtained.  Decl.  was  directed  to  recross  the 
river  to  the  neighborhood  of  Russell  and  on  a 
time  fixed  again  to  meet  the  Com.  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river.  Decl.  returned  to  Russell's  neigh 
borhood,  soon  became  intimate  with  the  Loyal 
ists,  was  introduced  to  Capt.  Robinson,  said  to  be 
an  English  officer  and  who  was  to  command  the 
Co.  then  raising.  Capt.  Robinson  occupied  a 
cave  in  the  mountains,  and  decl.  having  agreed 
to  go  with  the  Co.  was  invited  and  accepted  of  the 
invitation  to  lodge  with  Robinson  in  the  cave. 
They  slept  together  nearly  a  week  in  the  cave, 
and  the  time  for  the  Co.  to  start  having  been 
fixed  and  the  route  designated  to  pass  Severn's 
to  Bush  Carrick's,  where  they  were  to  stop  the 
first  night.  The  time  for  starting  having  arrived 
before  the  appointed  time  to  meet  the  Com.  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  the  decl.  in  order  to  get  an 
opportunity  to  convey  information  to  Fishkill 
recommended  that  each  man  should  the  night  be 
fore  they  started  sleep  where  he  chose,  and  that 
each  should  be  by  himself,  for  if  they  should  be 
discovered  that  night  together  all  would  be  taken, 
which  would  be  avoided  if  they  were  separated. 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

The  proposition  was  acceded  to,  and  when  they 
separated  decl.  not  having  time  to  go  to  Fishkill, 
and  as  the  only  and  as  it  appeared  the  best  means 
of  giving  information  was  to  go  to  Mr.  Purdy, 
who  was  a  stranger  to  decl.  and  all  he  knew  of 
him  was  that  the  Tories  called  him  a  wicked  rebel 
and  said  he  ought  to  die.  Decl.  went  and  found 
said  Purdy  and  informed  him  of  the  situation  of 
affairs,  of  the  time  the  Co.  was  to  start,  and  the 
place  which  they  were  to  stop  the  first  night,  and 
requested  him  to  go  to  Fishkill  and  give  the  in 
formation  to  the  Com.  Purdy  assured  the  decl. 
that  the  information  should  be  given.  Decl.  re 
turned  to  Russell's  and  lodged  in  his  house.  The 
following  evening  the  Co.  assembled,  consisting 
about  30  men,  and  started  from  Russell's  house, 
which  was  in  the  town  of  Marlborough,  County 
of  Ulster,  for  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
night  arrived  at  Bush  Carrick's,  and  went  into 
the  barn  to  lodge  after  taking  refreshments.  Be 
fore  morning  the  barn  was  surrounded  by  Amer 
ican  troops,  and  the  whole  company,  including 
Capt.  Robinson,  were  made  prisoners.  The 
troops  who  took  the  company  prisoners  were  com 
manded  by  Capt.  Melancthon  Smith,  who  com 
manded  a  company  of  Rangers  at  Fishkill.  His 
Co.  crossed  the  river  to  perform  this  service.  Col. 
Duer  was  with  Capt.  Smith's  Co.  on  this  expedi 
tion.  The  prisoners  including  decl.  were  marched 
to  Fishkill  &  confined  in  the  stone  church,  in 
which  there  was  near  two  hundred  prisoners. 
After  remaining  one  night  in  the  church  the  Com. 
sent  for  decl.  and  told  him  it  was  unsafe  for  him 
to  remain  with  the  prisoners  as  the  least  suspicion 
of  the  course  he  had  pursued  would  be  fatal  to 


SECRET  SERVICE 

him,  and  advised  him  to  leave  the  village  of  Fish- 
kill  and  to  remain  where  they  could  call  on  him  if 
his  services  should  be  wanted.  Decl.  went  to  the 
house  of  a  Dutchman,  a  farmer,  whose  name  is 
forgotten,  about  five  miles  from  the  village  of 
Fishkill,  and  there  went  to  work  making  shoes. 
After  decl.  had  made  arrangements  for  working 
at  shoes,  he  informed  Mr.  Sackett,  one  of  the 
Com.,  where  he  could  be  found  if  he  should  be 
wanted.  In  about  a  week  decl.  reed,  a  letter  from 
the  Com.,  requesting  him  to  meet  one  of  the  Com. 
at  the  house  of  Dr.  Osborn,  about  one  mile  from 
Fishkill.  Decl.  according  to  the  request  went  to 
the  house  of  Dr.  Osborn,  and  soon  after  John  Jay 
came  there,  enquired  for  the  Dr.,  who  was  absent, 
enquired  for  medicine,  but  found  none  he  wanted. 
He  came  out  of  the  house  and  went  to  his  horse, 
near  which  decl.  stood,  and  as  he  passed  he  said 
in  a  low  voice  "It  won't  do,  there  are  too  many 
around.  Return  to  your  work."  Decl.  went  back 
and  went  to  work  at  shoes,  but  within  a  day  or 
two  was  again  notified  and  a  horse  sent  to  him, 
requiring  him  to  go  to  Bennington  in  Vt.  and 
from  there  westerly  to  a  place  called  Maloons- 
cock,  and  there  call  on  Hazard  Wilcox,  a  Tory 
of  much  notoriety,  and  ascertain  if  anything  was 
going  on  there  injurious  to  the  common  cause. 
Decl.  followed  his  instructions,  found  Wilcox, 
but  could  not  learn  that  any  secret  measure  was 
then  projected  against  the  interest  of  the  coun 
try.  At  that  place  learned  from  Wilcox  a  list  of 
persons  friendly  to  the  British  cause,  who  could 
be  safely  trusted,  from  that  place  quite  down  to 
the  south  part  of  Dutchess  County.  Decl.  fol 
lowed  directions  of  said  Wilcox  and  called  on  diff - 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

erent  individuals  by  him  mentioned,  but  could 
discover  nothing  of  importance,  until  he  reached 
the  town  of  Pawlings  in  Dutchess  County,  where 
he  called  upon  a  Dr.  whose  name  he  thinks  was 
Prosser,  and  informed  him  that  he  wished  to  go 
below  but  was  fearful  of  some  trouble.  The  Dr. 
informed  him  there  was  a  Co.  raising  in  that 
vicinity  to  go  to  N.  Y.  to  join  the  British  army, 
that  the  Captain's  name  was  Sheldon,  that  he  had 
been  down  and  got  a  commission,  that  he,  Pros 
ser,  was  doctoring  the  Lieut.,  whose  name  wras 
Chase,  that  if  decl.  would  wait  a  few  days  he 
could  safely  go  down  with  that  Co.,  that  he  could 
stay  about  the  neighborhood  and  should  be  in 
formed  when  the  Co.  was  ready,  that  decl.  re 
mained  in  that  vicinity,  became  acquainted  with 
several  of  the  persons  who  were  going  with  that 
Co.,  was  acquainted  with  Lieut.  Chase,  but  never 
saw  the  Capt.  to  form  any  acquaintance  with  him. 
The  season  had  got  so  far  advanced  that  the  Co. 
was  about  to  start  to  join  the  enemy  to  be  ready 
for  an  early  campaign  in  1777.  It  was  about  the 
last  of  Feb.  of  that  year  when  a  plan  was  fixed 
and  also  a  time  for  meeting.  It  was  situated  half 
a  mile  from  the  road  and  about  3  miles  from  a 
house  then  occupied  by  Col.  Morehouse,  a  militia 
Col.  After  the  time  was  fixed  for  the  meeting  of 
Capt.  Sheldon's  Co.,  the  deponent  went  in  the 
night  to  Col.  Morehouse  &  informed  him  of  the 
situation,  of  the  Co.,  of  the  time  appointed  for 
meeting,  of  the  place,  etc.,  and  Morehouse  in 
formed  decl.  that  they  should  be  attended  to. 
The  decl.  remained  almost  one  month  in  this 
neighborhood,  and  once  in  the  time  met  Mr. 
Sackett,  one  of  the  Com.,  at  Col.  Ludington's^ 


SECRET  SERVICE 

and  apprised  him  what  was  going  on,  and  was  to 
have  given  the  Com.  intelligence  when  the  Co. 
was  to  march,  but  the  shortness  of  the  time  be 
tween  the  final  arrangement  and  the  time  of  start 
ing  was  such  that  decl.  was  obliged  to  give  the  in 
formation  to  Col.  Morehouse.  The  Co.,  consist 
ing  of  about  30,  met  at  the  time  and  place  ap 
pointed,  and  after  they  had  been  there  an  hour 
or  two  two  young  men  of  the  Co.  came  in  &  said 
there  was  a  gathering  under  arms  at  Old  More- 
house's.  The  inquiry  became  general,  What 
could  it  mean?  Was  there  any  traitor  in  the 
Company?  The  Captain  soon  called  one  or  two 
of  the  Company  out  of  the  door  for  the  purpose 
of  private  conversation  about  the  situation,  & 
very  soon  decl.  heard  the  cry  "Stand!  Stand!" 
Those  out  the  door  ran,  but  were  soon  met  by  a 
Co.  coming  from  a  different  direction,  they  were 
taken,  the  house  surrounded  &  the  Co.  all  made 
prisoners.  The  Col.  then  ordered  them  to  be  tied 
together  two  by  two.  They  came  to  decl.  and  he 
urged  to  be  excused  from  going  as  he  was  lame 
and  could  not  travel.  The  Col.  replied  "You 
shall  go,  dead  or  alive,  &  if  no  other  way  you  shall 
be  carried  on  the  horse  with  me."  The  rest  were 
marched  off  &  decl.  put  onto  the  horse  with  Col. 
Morehouse  and  when  the  prisoners  were  marched 
into  the  house  the  decl.  with  the  permission  of 
Morehouse  left  them  and  made  the  best  of  his 
way  to  Col.  Ludington's  and  there  informed  him 
about  daylight  in  the  morning.  From  thence  he 
went  to  Fishkill  to  the  house  of  Dr.  Van  Wyck 
where  John  Jay  boarded,  and  there  informed  him 
of  all  the  occurrences  on  that  northern  expedition. 
Said  Jay  requested  decl.  to  come  before  the  Com. 

cm] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

the  next  night,  when  they  would  be  ready  to  re 
ceive  him.  He  accordingly  went  before  the  Com., 
where  he  declared  under  oath  all  that  had  oc 
curred  since  he  had  seen  them.  The  Com.  then 
directed  him  to  go  to  the  house  of  Col.  Van  Ness 
in  Albany  County,  and  there  take  directions  from 
him.  He  went  to  Van  Ness's  house  and  was  di 
rected  by  him  to  go  north,  but  decl.  cannot  tell 
the  place.  The  duty  was  performed,  but  nothing 
material  discovered  further  than  that  the  confisca 
tion  of  the  personal  property  of  the  Tories  and 
leasing  of  their  lands  had  a  great  tendency  to  dis 
courage  them  from  joining  the  British  army. 
Decl.  then  returned  to  Po'keepsie,  where  Egbert 
Benson  and  Melancthon  Smith  entered  in  the 
room  of  the  Fishkill  Com.  There  was  no  more 
business  in  that  town  in  which  they  wished  to  em 
ploy  decl.,  and  he  being  apprehensive  that  a 
longer  continuance  in  that  employment  would  be 
dangerous  &  the  time  for  which  he  enlisted  in  Col. 
Swartwout's  regiment  having  expired,  he  came 
home  with  the  approbation  of  the  Com. 

This  was  about  the  last  of  May,  1777,  and  in 
the  course  of  the  fall,  after  decl.  saw  Col.  Swart- 
wout  at  his  house  in  Fishkill  &  then  talked  over 
the  subject  of  this  employment  of  the  decl.  by  the 
Com.  &  the  Col.  told  decl.  that  he  had  drawn  his 
pay  the  same  as  if  he  had  been  with  the  Reg't, 
that  the  Paymaster  of  the  Reg't  lived  in  the  town 
of  Hurley  in  Ulster  Co.  Decl.  went  to  the  Pay 
master  and  rec'd  his  pay  for  nine  months'  service 
or  for  the  term  for  which  the  regiment  was  raised. 
The  decl.  was  employed  in  the  secret  service  for  a 
period  of  full  9  months. 

This  decl.  further  says  that  in  the  year  1779  in 


SECRET  SERVICE 

the  month  of  May  he  enlisted  in  a  company  com 
manded  by  Captain  Jonah  Hallett  for  six 
months.  Decl.  enlisted  as  a  Sergeant  in  said 
Hallett's  Co.  The  term  of  enlistment  was  per 
formed  on  the  lines  in  the  Co.  of  Westchester, 
moving  from  place  to  place  to  guard  the  country 
and  to  detect  Tories;  that  the  Co.  continued  in 
this  service  until  after  Stony  Point  was  taken  by 
Genl.  Wayne  &  abandoned  &  also  reoccupied  & 
abandoned  by  the  English  troops,  when  the  Co. 
was  ordered  over  the  river  &  joined  the  regiment 
at  Stony  Point  and  continued  there  in  making 
preparations  for  building  a  block  house  until  the 
time  of  the  expiration  of  the  service,  when  the  Co. 
was  ordered  to  march  to  Po'keepsie  to  be  dis 
charged  by  the  Governor.  When  they  arrived  the 
Governor  was  absent,  the  Co.  was  billetted  out  & 
decl.  was  billetted  upon  the  family  of  Dr.  Tap- 
pen.  After  remaining  a  day  or  two  and  the  Gov 
ernor  not  arriving  they  were  discharged.  During 
this  service  in  Westchester  Co.  the  following  oc 
currence  took  place:  A  British  vessel  lay  at  an 
chor  near  Tiller's  Point  &  a  party  of  sailors  & 
marines  came  on  shore  &  marched  a  short  distance 
from  the  water,  where  a  party  of  our  men  got 
between  them  &  the  water  &  made  them  pris 
oners.  They  were  marched  to  the  place  where  the 
Co.  lay  a  little  east  of  Tiller's  Point.  The  num 
ber  of  prisoners  decl.  thinks  was  12  and  the  cap 
tors  6.  The  prisoners  were  afterward  sent  to 
Po'keepsie. 

The  decl.  further  says  that  in  the  month  of 
May  in  the  year  1780  he  again  enlisted  for  6 
months  in  a  Co.  commanded  by  Capt.  Ludington 
in  Col.  Benschoten's  Regt.  He  entered  as  a 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Sergeant  in  the  town  of  Fredericksburgh,  now 
the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam  Co.  The  Regt.  as 
sembled  at  Fishkill  &  marched  to  West  Point  & 
remained  there  a  few  days,  some  10  or  15.  A  call 
was  made  for  troops  to  fill  up  the  Brigade  or 
Brigades  under  the  command  of  General  De  La 
Fayette  and  they  were  to  be  raised  by  drafts  or 
volunteers.  A  call  was  made  for  volunteers  and 
decl.  with  others  volunteered  &  made  a  Co.  which 
was  put  under  Capt.  Daniel  Delavan.  The  decl. 
continued  to  be  a  Sergeant  in  Delavan's  Co.  Col. 
Philip  Van  Courtland  commanded  the  Regt.  to 
which  Capt.  Delavan's  Co.  was  attached.  Soon 
after  the  Co.  was  formed  they  crossed  the  river 
from  West  Point  and  marched  to  Peekskill, 
where  they  remained  one  night,  the  next  day 
marched  to  Verplanck's  Point  and  crossed  over 
to  Stony  Point,  &  from  thence  made  the  best  of 
their  way  to  New  Jersey  where  they  remained 
until  late  in  the  fall,  when  the  time  of  enlistment 
having  expired  they  were  discharged,  after  hav 
ing  fully  and  faithfully  performed  the  service  of 
6  months  for  which  he  enlisted.  During  the  cam 
paign  in  New  Jersey  Major  Andre  was  arrested, 
condemned  &  executed.  Several  of  the  soldiers 
of  Capt.  Delavan's  Co.  went  to  see  him  executed. 
The  decl.  was  Sergeant  of  the  guard  that  day  & 
could  not  go  to  see  the  execution. 

The  decl.  further  says  that  he  has  no  documen 
tary  evidence  of  his  service  and  that  he  knows  of 
no  person  who  can  testify  to  his  services  other 
than  those  whose  depositions  are  hereto  annexed. 
The  decl.  hereby  relinquishes  every  claim  to  a 
pension  or  annuity  except  the  present  &  declares 
that  his  name  is  not  on  the  pension  roll  agency 

[ISO] 


SECRET  SERVICE 

of  any  State.  The  decl.  was  born  in  a  place  called 
Harwich  in  the  County  of  Barnstable  and  State 
of  Mass,  in  the  year  1750.  The  decl.  has  a  record 
of  his  age.  The  decl.  was  living  in  the  town  of 
Danbury  in  the  State  of  Conn  when  he  enlisted  in 
the  service,  that  service  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  decl.  has  resided  in  the  State  of  New  York 
in  what  is  now  the  Co.  of  Putnam,  formerly  Co. 
of  Dutchess,  &  now  lives  in  the  same  Co.  &  on  the 
same  farm  where  he  has  lived  for  the  last  50  years. 
The  decl.  always  volunteered  in  every  enlistment 
&  to  perform  all  the  service  which  he  performed 
as  detailed  in  this  declaration.  That  the  decl.  was 
acquainted  with  the  following  officers  who  were 
with  the  troops  where  he  served :  Genl.  Schuyler, 
Gen.  Montgomery,  Gen.  Wooster,  Col.  Water- 
bury,  Col.  Holmes,  Gen.  De  La  Fayette,  Gen. 
Poor,  Col.  Van  Courtland,  Col.  Benschoten,  Col. 
Ludington.  The  decl.  never  rec'd.  any  written 
discharge  &  if  he  ever  received  a  Sergeant's  war 
rant  it  is  through  time  or  accident  lost  or  de 
stroyed.  This  decl.  is  known  to  Samuel  Wash- 
burn,  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of 
the  Co.  of  Putnam;  Beneah  Y.  Morse,  a  clergy 
man  in  his  neighborhood  and  who  he  believes  can 
testify  to  his  character  for  veracity  &  good  be 
havior  &  thus  belief  of  his  services  as  a  Soldier  of 
the  Revolution. 

ENOCH  CROSBY. 

Sworn  to  &  Subscribed  this  day  and  year  afore 
said; 

I.  Morehouse,  Clerk  of  said  Court. 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Appended  to  this  declaration  were  affidavits  of 
Judge  Washburn  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  confirm 
ing  so  far  as  their  knowledge  extended  the  state 
ments  of  Enoch  Crosby.  There  were  also  similar 
affidavits  of  Timothy  Wood,  Jabez  Berry,  and 
Daniel  Crawford,  who  had  been  fellow  soldiers  with 
Crosby  in  the  war. 

Enough  has  been  said  already  to  indicate  the  in 
timate  relations  which  existed  between  Crosby  and 
Colonel  Ludington.  While  the  spy  was  on  service 
in  Dutchess  County,  in  connection  with  Prosser  and 
his  company,  he  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  Luding- 
ton's  house,  and  often  lay  hidden  securely  there 
while  Tories  were  searching  for  him.  (Between 
Prosser  and  Colonel  Ludington,  by  the  way,  as  we 
shall  presently  see,  a  peculiarly  bitter  personal  feud 
existed. )  Colonel  Ludington's  daughters,  Sibyl  and 
Rebecca,  were  also  privy  to  Crosby's  doings,  and  had 
a  code  of  signals,  by  means  of  which  they  frequently 
admitted  him  in  secrecy  and  safety  to  the  house, 
where  he  was  fed  and  lodged.  In  addition  to  Crosby 
and  to  Benajah  Tubbs,  who  was  mentioned  at  the 
beginning  of  this  chapter,  Colonel  Ludington  fur 
nished  numerous  other  members  of  the  Secret  Service 
from  the  ranks  of  his  own  regiment,  and  was  himself 
the  recipient  of  their  clandestine  reports,  some  of 
which  were  transmitted  by  him  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  and  some  to  the  headquarters  of  General 
Washington. 


cu 

8 

o 


CHAPTER  VI 

BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

"T)  ETWEEN  the  lines"  is  always  a  place  of  pe- 
-D  culiar  difficulty  and  danger.  The  Border  States 
in  our  Civil  War  were  the  deadliest  battle-grounds, 
not  only  the  meeting-places  of  the  contending  armies 
but  also  the  scene  of  innumerable  local  feuds  and 
conflicts  between  the  inhabitants,  half  of  whom  in 
clined  to  one  side  and  half  to  the  other.  A  similar 
position  was  held  in  the  Revolution  by  Westchester 
and  Dutchess  counties,  lying  between  the  British  at 
the  south  and  the  Americans  at  the  north.  As  this 
was  the  most  fertile  and  productive  agricultural 
region  easily  accessible  from  New  York,  it  was  fre 
quently  invaded  by  British  foraging  parties,  seek 
ing  the  supplies  which  were  needed  by  the  army  in 
the  city  and  which  were  not  easily  to  be  got  else 
where.  Nor  did  the  region  altogether  escape  similar 
attentions  from  the  American  Army.  More  than 
once,  indeed,  organized  raids  were  made  by  the  latter 
southward  into  the  part  of  the  debatable  ground 
lying  nearest  to  the  British  lines,  not  only  to  secure 
forage  and  other  supplies  for  American  use  but  also 
to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
British.  Himself  a  resident  of  that  region,  Colonel 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Ludington  was  well  fitted  to  deal  with  such  local 
conditions,  and  accordingly  a  large  third  part  of  his 
public  services  were  thus  rendered.  Entries  in  his 
ledger  indicate  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Dutch- 
ess  County  Committee  of  Safety  on  June  11,  1776, 
and  for  some  time  thereafter.  This  was  the  commit 
tee  which  was  constituted  for  the  purpose  of  "in 
quiring  into,  detecting  and  defeating  all  conspiracies 
formed  in  this  State  against  the  liberties  of  Amer 
ica."  When  he  was  no  longer  a  member  of  the  com 
mittee  he  was  one  of  its  most  efficient  executive 
agents,  and  much  of  the  services  of  himself  and  his 
regiment  were  given  in  pursuance  of  the  plans  of 
that  committee. 

In  the  records  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  under 
date  of  October  14,  1776,  we  find  that  "Col.  Luding- 
ton  informed  a  member  that  he  has  20  or  more  Arms, 
taken  from  disaffected  persons,  now  in  his  possession, 
and  requests  to  know  how  they  shall  be  disposed  of. 
Ordered,  That  Col.  Ludington  send  all  arms  in  his 
possession,  taken  from  disaffected  persons,  to  this 
Committee  without  delay,  and  that  he  sends  his  ac 
count  for  repairing  to  the  Auditor-General."  The 
"account  for  repairing"  refers  to  the  work  done  by 
Colonel  Ludington  on  the  captured  weapons  to 
make  them  serviceable  for  use  in  the  American 
Army;  many  of  the  Tories  deliberately  breaking 
their  muskets  or  depriving  them  of  essential  parts, 
before  surrendering  them.  A  little  later  William 
Duer,  one  of  the  foremost  members  of  the  Commit- 


t 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

tee,  reported  that  "large  quantities  of  hay  and  corn 
were  purchased  by  the  Quarter  Master  General  for 
use  of  the  Continental  Army  in  the  eastern  part  of 
this  (Dutchess)  County  and  the  western  part  of 
Connecticut,  that  it  would  be  hardly  practicable  to 
convey  the  same  to  the  army  unless  the  roads  leading 
from  the  Oblong  and  Fredericksburgh  towards 
Pine's  Bridge  and  North  Castle  were  better  repaired. 
He  therefore  in  behalf  of  General  Mifflin,  Quarter 
Master  General  of  the  Continental  Army,  prayed 
that  this  House  would  devise  ways  and  means  of 
facilitating  the  above  mentioned  communication,  not 
doubting  but  so  necessary  an  expenditure  would  be 
cheerfully  reimbursed  from  the  Continental  Treas 
ury.  On  taking  the  application  of  Mr.  Duer  into 
consideration,  Resolved,  That  it  will  be  necessary  to 
repair  the  following  Roads  in  order  to  facilitate  the 
cartage  of  forage  to  the  Continental  Army,  from  the 
house  of  Col.  Henry  Ludington  thence  to  Samuel 
Washburn's,  being  8  miles ;  the  road  which  runs  east 
from  Col.  Harry  Ludington's  to  the  Store  of  Mal 
colm  Morrison's  and  thence  south  to  the  Mills  of 
Samuel  Washburn,  being  12  miles.  Resolved  That 
Col.  Ludington  detach  from  his  Regiment  100  men 
for  the  purpose  of  repairing  that  part  of  the  road 
which  is  first  mentioned,  being  in  distance  8  Miles 
.  .  .  Ordered,  that  copies  of  these  Resolutions  be 
immediately  transmitted  to  the  Supts.  above  men 
tioned,  who  are  directed  to  communicate  them  with 
out  loss  of  time  to  Cols.  Fields  and  Luddington." 

D35] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

For  this  road-mending  work  the  Committee  fixed 
the  price  of  labor  at  ten  shillings  a  day,  exclusive  of 
subsistence,  for  the  superintendents,  and  four  shill 
ings  a  day  for  the  men,  the  latter  to  provide  their 
own  sustenance.  They  had  power  to  impress  teams 
and  carts,  and  to  pay  for  each  ox-cart  and  two  yoke 
of  cattle  sixteen  shillings,  and  for  each  wagon  twelve 
shillings.  Those  who  remember  the  common  condi 
tion  of  roads  in  that  part  of  the  State  a  score  of  years 
ago,  will  appreciate  what  need  there  must  have  been 
a  century  before  of  repairs  and  improvements. 

The  varied  character  of  Colonel  Ludington's  ser 
vices  in  the  first  years  of  the  Revolution  is  indicated 
by  the  entries  in  his  ledger.  Thus  in  November, 
1776,  we  find  him  charging  the  Committee  for  in 
quiring  into  and  detecting  conspiracies  against  the 
State  of  New  York  with  "4  days  service  riding  with 
Nathaniel  Sackett  in  order  to  collect  evidence,  at  21 
shillings,  4  days,  <£4 — 5 — 4."  On  November  21, 
1776:  "Then  began  the  service  of  buying  hay  and 
grain  for  the  use  of  the  Continental  Army  by  an 
agreement  with  Wm.  Duer."  On  January  1,  1777: 
"Then  stopped  the  service  of  buying  hay,  being  in 
all  41  days  at  20  shillings  per  day."  In  November, 
1777:  "Then  engaged  in  the  Commissary  Depart 
ment  under  Deputy  Commissary  General  and  con 
tinued  on  the  service  until  the  8th  of  January,  48 
days  in  all  at  32  shillings  per  day,  58  £  16  s." 

A  number  of  persons  were  arrested  and  taken  be 
fore  the  Committee  at  Fishkill  in  December,  1776, 

C  1361] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

and  on  December  20  one  of  them,  David  Aikins, 
made  affidavit:  "That  on  or  about  the  29th  day  of 
November  last,  he  set  out  from  home  with  a  pass 
from  Colonel  Henry  Ludington  to  go  to  Horse 
Neck  to  buy  rum;  and  further  stated  he  was  disap 
pointed  in  getting  it.  He  then  proceeded  to  find 
one  Barnes  Hatfield  who  owed  him  a  considerable 
sum  of  money,  but  not  finding  him  he  went  to  see 
Isaac  Williams  who  had  married  his  cousin,  and 
while  there  he  was  captured  by  Rogers' s  Rangers 
(British)  and  afterwards  was  taken  before  a  Major 
near  King's  Bridge.  The  Major  asked  him  how  he 
could  clear  himself  from  the  rebel  pass  found  upon 
him.  He  said  he  came  down  upon  a  particular  er 
rand  from  Captain  Alexander  Grant's  wife  to  him 
and  if  he  would  send  him  to  Capt.  Grant  or  Capt. 
Archbd.  Campbell  he  would  prove  his  character. 
Upon  his  arrival  to  Capt.  Campbell  said  he  was  a 
prisoner  and  it  was  in  his  power  to  discharge  him. 
Campbell  said  he  would  discharge  him  if  he  would 
carry  some  papers  and  errands  to  certain  persons  in 
his  neighborhood  and  be  secret  about  it.  He  prom 
ised  and  Captain  Campbell  gave  him  two  printed 
papers  and  protections  from  General  Howe  for  Mal 
colm  Morrison,  John  Kain,  Alexander  Kidd,  Mat 
thew  Patterson,  Charles  Collins  and  one  for  him 
self."  In  an  affidavit  two  days  later  the  Patterson 
mentioned  declared:  "That  he  told  Akins  that  he  did 
not  chuse  to  have  anything  to  do  with  such  things, 
and  further  saith  that  there  was  a  Man  in  the  room, 

cm  3 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

meaning  Colo.  Luddinton,  who  if  he  knew  what 
Aikins  said  would  immediately  send  him  to  Con 
gress,  but  did  not  deem  it  expedient  to  mention  to 
Col.  Ludington." 

Malcolm  Morrison  appears  to  have  been  ap 
prehended  on  suspicion  and  to  have  been  held  for  a 
time  at  Kingston  jail,  whence  he  sent,  on  February 
19,  1777,  a  petition  in  which  he  said:  "Your  peti 
tioner  has  always  been  ready  in  assisting  both  officers 
and  soldiers  in  their  publick  business  of  the  States 
and  in  a  most  generous  manner  has  advanced  them 
Cash  for  their  Different  Reliefs,  and  is  at  present  a 
very  considerable  sum  out  of  pocket  on  that  account 
and  has  received  no  part  of  such  sum  except  six 
pounds  lent  to  Colo.  Luddleton  and  Wm.  Griffin  to 
enable  them  to  find  out  that  pernicious  plot  of  John 
Miller  and  Constant  Nickerson,  Reference  being  had 
to  these  gentlemen  for  the  truth  of  his  advice  &  as 
sistance  in  bringing  that  plot  to  light."  Morrison 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  was  released.  The 
Nickerson  referred  to  was  doubtless  Captain  "Josh" 
Nickerson,  of  the  Swamp,  near  Fredericksburgh,  a 
notorious  Tory.  He  enlisted  and  drilled  a  large 
number  of  men,  with  the  design  of  taking  them  to 
join  General  Howe's  army  in  New  York.  Their 
plans  and  meetings  were  all  supposed  to  be  kept  a 
profound  secret,  but  Colonel  Ludington  learned  of 
them  and  made  counter  plans  for  the  capture  of  the 
whole  party.  To  that  end  he  sent  one  of  his  tenants 
as  a  spy  to  ascertain  the  number,  place  of  meeting, 

[138] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

etc.,  of  the  Tories.  This  spy,  after  some  difficulty, 
fell  in  with  one  of  the  party  and  pretended  to  him 
that  he  was  desirous  of  enlisting  in  the  British  Army. 
He  was  thereupon  taken  to  Nickerson  and  enrolled. 
He  ascertained  that  a  certain  night  had  been  ap 
pointed  for  their  setting  out  for  New  York,  and  also 
that  the  roster  of  the  company  was  kept  concealed  in 
a  hollow  walking-stick  which  Nickerson  always  had 
by  him.  This  information  was  promptly  conveyed 
to  Colonel  Ludington,  who  forthwith  assembled  his 
regiment,  surrounded  Nickerson  and  his  company  on 
the  night  set  for  their  departure  for  New  York,  and 
took  them  all  prisoners.  The  documentary  evidence 
of  their  guilt  was  found  on  the  written  roll,  and 
Nickerson  was  vastly  chagrined  when  Colonel  Lud 
ington  bade  him  give  up  the  cane  and  then  opened  it 
and  took  out  the  hidden  paper. 

The  southern  part  of  Dutchess  County,  now  Put 
nam  County,  was,  in  fact,  one  of  the  most  critical 
danger  spots  in  the  whole  country,  as  a  passage  in 
the  Journal  of  the  Convention  of  the  State  of  New 
York  shows,  under  date  of  Sunday  morning,  May  4, 
1777: 

Capt.  Delavan,  who  being  called  before  the 
Convention,  after  giving  information  upon  the 
subject  contained  in  the  letters  brought  by  him, 
further  informed  the  House,  That  the  disaffected 
persons  are  very  numerous  in  the  southern  parts 
of  Dutchess  County,  and  that  without  doubt  they 
will  fall  upon  the  Whigs  whenever  the  enemy 

[139] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

attack  our  army  at  Peekskill  or  at  the  forts  in  the 
Highlands;  they  therefore  request  the  Conven 
tion  to  take  some  measure  in  the  premises.  There 
upon  Resolved,  That  Mr.  Jay,  Colo.  Thomas, 
Colo.  Ludington  be  Commissioners  to  prevent, 
quell  and  subdue  all  insurrections  and  disaffec- 
tions  in  the  Counties  of  Dutchess  and  Westches- 
ter,  and  to  take  every  measure  for  that  pur 
pose  which  they  shall  deem  necessary;  and  that 
the}7  cooperate  with  Messrs.  Robert  R.  Living 
ston,  Zephaniah  Platt  and  Matthew  Cantine,  a 
committee  appointed  yesterday,  for  the  like  pur 
pose  in  the  Manor  of  Livingston  and  Rhinebeck 
Precinct.  Resolved,  That  the  said  Commissioners 
immediately  collect  with  the  assistance  of  Gen 
eral  McDougall,  or  General  George  Clinton,  or 
from  the  militia  of  the  County  of  Dutchess, 
whichever  shall  appear  to  them  most  expeditious, 
a  force  sufficient  for  the  purpose  and  also  to  com 
ply  with  the  following  instructions,  to  wit:  Gen 
tlemen  :  You  are  to  begin  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  County  of  Dutchess  and  proceed  to  the  north 
ward,  and  in  your  progress  secure  the  disaffected, 
call  out  the  whole  militia,  and  destroy  all  such  as 
shall  be  found  in  arms  to  oppose  you.  When  you 
shall  meet  with  the  Committee  above  mentioned 
you  are  to  act  in  concert  with  them,  to  secure  the 
prisoners  you  shall  have  respectively  made,  to 
dismiss  such  of  the  militia  as  you  may  think 
proper,  and  with  the  remainder  march  into  the 
County  of  Westchester  by  different  ways,  con 
certing  at  the  same  time  such  measures  with  Gen 
eral  McDougall  or  other  commanding  officer  at 
Peekskill  as  will  effectually  clear  said  county  of 
Westchester  of  all  dangerous  and  disaffected 

[140  3 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

persons.  You  are  on  every  occasion,  by  every 
means  in  your  power  (torture  excepted)  to  com 
pel  the  discovery  and  delivery  of  spies  or  other 
emissaries  of  the  enemy,  who  you  may  have 
reason  to  believe  are  concealed  in  any  part  of  the 
country  through  which  you  may  make  progress 
and  upon  due  proof  immediately  execute  them  in 
terrorem. 

A  copy  of  the  resolutions  was  sent  to  Livingston, 
Platt,  and  Cantine,  with  additional  instructions  to 
conform  with  the  resolutions  sent  them,  and  after 
having  cleared  the  manor  of  Livingston  and  the  pre 
cinct  of  Rhinebeck  of  all  dangerous  and  disaffected 
inhabitants,  to  proceed  southward  until  they  met 
with  Jay,  Thomas,  and  Ludington,  conducting 
themselves  in  accordance  with  the  resolutions;  and 
when  they  had  met  with  them,  immediately  to  form 
a  proper  plan  and  endeavor  to  carry  the  plan  into 
immediate  execution.  Discretion  was  given  to  vary 
from  instructions  as  the  circumstances  might  re 
quire.  Copies  of  the  intelligence  received  by  the 
Convention  were  sent  to  the  commissioners.  A  few 
days  later,  under  date  of  May  8,  Livingston,  Platt 
and  Cantine  reported  that  the  number  of  conspira 
tors  was  far  greater  than  they  had  imagined,  almost 
everybody  in  the  upper  manor,  particularly  the  east 
ern  part  of  it,  being  disaffected,  and  they  urged  that 
courts  martial  were  absolutely  necessary  for  dealing 
with  the  chief  offenders.  As  for  Jay,  Thomas,  and 
Ludington,  they  entered  upon  their  part  of  the  work 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

with  zeal,  but  found  themselves  somewhat  hampered 
by  other  demands  made  upon  them  and  by  the  un 
willingness  of  some  of  the  militia  to  engage  in  the 
service  of  the  Continental  Army.  On  June  25  this 
matter  was  brought  before  the  Convention,  and  it 
was— 

Resolved,  That  whereas  information  hath  been 
given  to  this  Congress  that  certain  Captains  in 
Col.  Luddington's  regiment  of  militia  in  Dutch- 
ess  County  have  refused  to  draft  out  of  their 
respective  companies  for  the  purpose  of  brigade 
of  militia  to  be  raised  in  this  county  for  the  Con 
tinental  service  as  recommended  by  this  Congress 
in  pursuance  of  the  resolves  of  the  Continental 
Congress  of  the  1st,  3rd  and  4th  inst.  Resolved, 
That  the  general  committee  of  the  said  county  be 
requested  to  make  inquiry  into  the  premises,  and 
upon  due  proof  of  the  charge  against  the  said 
captains,  to  send  them  under  proper  guard  to  this 
Congress  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  their  de 
serts. 

During  that  summer  Colonel  Ludington  seems  to 
have  been  much  engaged  with  duties  in  Westchester 
County.  Thus  in  General  Putnam's  general  orders 
we  find,  under  date  of  White  Plains,  September  19, 
1777,  the  following: 

Colo.  Ludington  to  furnish  guards  and  pa- 
troles  from  the  camp  to  the  North  River.  Ma  jr. 
Gray  to  Send  a  guard  and  patrole  on  the  road 
between  Stephen  Woods  and  the  North  River. 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

Two  days  later,  on  September  21,  the  order  ran: 

Officer  of  the  Day  to-morrow  Colo  Ludenton 
the  same  No  to  go  on  Piquit  to-night  as  Last 
night  &  on  the  same  roads  great  care  to  be  taken 
not  to  put  any  on  this  Piquit  but  such  in  whose 
Fidelity  the  greatest  Confidence  may  be  Placed. 
Colo  Ludington  &  Major  Gray  will  guard  the 
same  Roads  as  yesterday.  Patroleing  Partys 
are  Constantly  to  be  kept  up. 

Again,  the  next  day,  the  order  ran:  "The  guards 
and  Piquits  are  to  be  kept  up  also  Ma  jr.  Gray  & 
Colo  Ludington  as  has  been  kept  before/' 

The  work  of  detecting  and  arresting  traitors  with 
in  the  American  lines  occupied  much  of  Colonel  Lud- 
ington's  attention,  and  in  it  he  seems  to  have  been 
particularly  energetic  and  effective.  His  wide  know 
ledge  of  men  and  affairs  in  Westchester  and  Dutch- 
ess  counties  caused  frequent  appeal  to  be  made  to 
him  for  information  concerning  suspicious  persons. 
Thus  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dimon  in  September, 
1777,  wrote  to  General  Putnam  as  follows: 

Harrison's  Purchase  Sept'r  12th  1777. 

Hon'd  Sir, 

Enclosed  I  have  sent  a  Return  of  the  Regt. 
Also  have  sent  for  your  Honor's  Examination, 
three  Prisoners  (viz)  John  Crabb,  an  Inhabitant 
of  Fredericsburg,  taken  up  at  White-plains,  who 
said  he  was  going  to  Horseneck  to  buy  Salt,  but 
on  being  searched,  it  appeared  that  2/6  in  paper 
&  4/6  or  5/  in  hard  Mony  was  all  the  Mony  he 
had  in  Possession,  &  what  renders  his  Conduct 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

still  more  suspicious,  was  that,  James  Knox,  an 
other  of  the  Prisoners,  was  in  Company  with  him, 
when  first  discovered  by  our  Men,  but  made  his 
Escape  from  them,  &  was  next  Day  taken  up 
near  New  Rochelle,  &  who  confesses  he  was  going 
to  the  Enemy:  s'd  Crabb  desiring  a  Man  might 
be  sent  to  Col.  Luddington,  to  obtain  his  Char 
acter,  to  whom  he  said  he  was  known;  I  acord- 
ingly  desired  Col.  Luddington  (to)  send  his 
Character,  which  he  did,  &  which  I  have  sent  en 
closed.  But  the  third,  as  I  imagine  the  greatest 
Villian  of  three,  named  Hachaliah  Merrit  was 
taken  in  East  Chester  early  in  the  Morning  after 
being  out  all  Night  with  his  Great  Coat  & 
Blanket,  &  armed  with  a  loaded  Pistoll,  &  who 
does  not  pretend  to  say  any  thing  in  his  own  Jus 
tification.  I  am  with  great  Esteem,  your  Hon 
our's  most  humble  Servant. 

DAVID  DIMON,  Lt.  Col. 
Major  Genl.  Putman. 

Accompanying  this  was  Colonel  Ludington's 
reply  to  the  appeal  for  a  "character"  for  the  prisoner 
Crabb,  which  could  have  given  that  worthy  little 
comfort : 

Dear  Sir, 

I  have  Inquired  into  the  Character  of  the  Said 
Jno.  Crabb  and  find  him  to  be  an  Enemy  to  his 
Country  therefore  shall  Expect  he  will  be 
Treated  as  Such  and  am  Sir 

Your  Very  humble  Serv't 

HENRY  LUDINTON,  Colo. 
Sept'rlO:1777. 

To  Colo.  David  Demmon. 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

A  few  days  later  Colonel  Ludington  himself  wrote 
to  Putnam : 

Philipse  Burgh  Sept'r  12th  1777. 
Sir, 

I  have  sent  you  one  Elijah  Taylor;  his  Crime 
is  as  Follows:  he  pretends  he  came  from  below 
our  Lines  because  he  was  Suspected  to  be  a  friend 
to  us;  a  few  days  after  he  came  to  me  with  his 
Brother  in  Law  from  Milesquare  pretending  he 
had  lost  a  Horse  and  applied  to  me  for  Orders  to 
take  him  where  he  could  find  him.  I  gave  him 
permission  to  search  for  his  Horse  any  where  he 
pleased  above  our  Lines  but  not  to  Return  home 
without  calling  on  me,  but  Instead  of  Calling, 
Returned  home  and  soon  after  came  up  again.  I 
found  by  his  Conduct  that  was  not  his  Arrent 
(errand)  for  at  the  Same  time  he  and  the  said 
Taylor  was  Laying  a  Plan  to  steal  our  horses. 
The  way  I  got  Information  was  that  one  Dudely 
Bailey,  a  Sutler  to  our  Regiment,  was  in  Con 
versation  with  the  said  Taylor  concerning  their 
Losing  Horses,  whereupon  the  said  Taylor  told 
him  they  had  Lost  Horses  and  knew  where  to 
find  them  but  did  not  care  about  them  for  he 
could  take  them  off  in  the  Night;  then  he  ask'd 
Bailey  where  the  Horses  belonging  to  the  Regi 
ment  were  kept,  and  where  our  Centenals  were 
posted,  in  order  that  he  might  Carry  his  plan  in 
Execution;  and  he  further  told  him  it  would  not 
be  Long  before  we  should  be  Routed,  for  a  few 
men  might  do  it,  as  we  were  Obliged  to  post  our 
selves  in  Houses.  He  further  agread  with  Baily 
for  him  to  go  down  as  far  as  Milesquare  to 
one  Benjamin  Taylor's  and  there  stay  until  the 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

s'd  Taylor  could  go  to  the  Hessian  Generals  and 
when  he  Return'd  he  would  put  him  in  good 
Business  where  he  might  Earn  a  Dollar  pr  day. 
he  further  said  that  When  he  makes  his  Report 
to  the  General  that  he  might  live  like  a  Gentle 
man  without  doing  any  work.  He  further  Ac 
quainted  him  he  had  been  through  your  Camps 
at  Peekskill  as  far  up  as  Poughkeepsy  and  there 
were  Several  Spies  out  among  whom  was  an 
Hessian  Officer,  and  upon  them  Circumstances  I 
have  sent  you  the  Said  Taylor.  For  further  In 
formation  Refer  you  to  the  said  Bailey  as  an 
Evidence  to  the  truth  of  the  Matter  who  shall  be 
sent  up  to  you  whenever  I  Receive  your  Order 
for  that  purpose. 

I  have  Likewise  sent  up  three  other  prisoners, 
Jacob  Read,  Abraham  Aston  &  Joseph  Brown, 
the  two  former  were  taken  up  on  Suspicion  of 
Carrying  on  a  dangerous  Correspondence  with 
the  Enemy  and  the  Latter  is  a  deserter  from 
Colo.  Willis's  Regt.  and  Capt.  Champion's 
Comp'y  of  the  Continental  Troops.  I  am  your 
honour's  Humble  Serv't 

HENRY  LUDINTON,  Col. 

P.  S.  Should  be  Oblig'd  to  your  Honour  to  give 
the  Bearer  some  direction  where  he  may  draw 
some  Cordage  for  the  use  of  the  Teams.  I  am  as 
above  H.  L. 

To  Genl.  Putnam  at  Head  Quarters  Peekskill. 

Jacob  Read,  or  Rhead,  promptly  wrote  to  Clinton, 
protesting  that  he  had  always  been  a  true  friend  of 
his  country  and  had  repeatedly  been  employed  in  its 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

service,  and  that  therefore  he  conceived  himself  to 
have  been  most  unjustly  treated  in  being  arrested  as 
a  traitor.  He  begged  to  be  examined  immediately 
and  to  be  set  at  liberty  on  proof  of  his  innocence. 

In  the  fall  of  1777  there  was  a  scarcity  of  pro 
visions  in  Westchester  and  Dutchess  counties,  and 
the  Tories  sought  further  to  embarrass  the  American 
cause  by  shipping  all  provisions  they  could  secure  to 
the  British  Army.  On  this  account  the  following  let 
ter  was  addressed  by  Colonel  Ludington  and  others 
to  the  Council  of  Safety  for  the  State  of  New  York: 

Dutchess  Co. 

3rd  December,  1777. 
Gentm: 

Nothing  but  the  strongest  necessity  could  in 
duce  us  to  trouble  you  with  an  application  of  so 
extraordinary  a  nature,  but  if  we  are  esteemed 
worthy  of  your  confidence  as  friends  to  our  strug 
gling  country  our  sincerity  will  atone  for  what  in 
common  cases  might  appear  indecent.  Our  in 
vaded  State  has  not  only  been  an  object  of  the 
special  designs  of  our  common  enemy,  but  ob 
noxious  to  the  wicked,  mercenary  intrigues  of  a 
number  of  engrossing  Jockies  who  have  drained 
this  part  of  the  State  of  the  article  of  bread  to  such 
a  degree  that  we  have  reason  to  fear  there  is  not 
enough  left  for  the  support  of  the  inhabitants.  We 
have  for  some  months  past  heard  of  one  Holmes 
who  has  been  purchasing  wheat  and  flour  in  these 
parts  with  which  the  well  affected  are  universally 
ill-provided.  This  man  with  us  is  of  doubtful  char 
acter,  his  conversations  are  of  the  disaffected  sort 
entirely.  He  has  now  moving  from  Fishkill  to- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

ward  Newark  we  think  not  less  than  one  hundred 
barrels  of  flour,  for  which  he  says  he  has  your  per 
mit,  the  which  we  have  not  seen.  However  we 
have,  at  the  universal  call  of  the  people,  concluded 
to  stop  the  flour  and  Holmes  himself  until  this 
express  may  return.  We  ourselves  think  from 
the  conduct  of  this  man  that  his  designs  are  bad. 
We  have  the  honor  to  be  your  humble  servants, 

HENRY  LUDINGTON, 
JOSEPH  CRANE  JR., 
JONATHAN  PADDOCK, 
ELIJAH  TOWNSEND. 

To  the  Honorable  the  Council  of  Safety  for  the 
State  of  N.  Y. 

More  than  two  months  later  Crane  and  Luding- 
ton  wrote  to  Governor  Clinton  on  the  same  matter: 

Southeast  Precinct,  16th  February,  1778. 
May  it  Please  Your  Excellency, 

We  about  Two  Months  ago  presumed  to  stop 
a  parcel  of  Flour  said  to  be  the  property  of  one 
Helmes  made  immediate  Report  thereof  to  the 
Council  of  Safety  in  answer  we  were  favoured 
with  a  coppy  of  the  Licence  Granted  by  the 
Council  to  the  said  Helms,  with  a  Coppy  of  the 
Oath  on  which  said  Licence  was  Granted  &  with 
Directions  from  the  Council  that  in  Case  the  Con 
duct  of  sd  Helms  was  not  Correspondant  with 
the  Tennor  of  sd  Oath  and  Licence  to  apprehend 
and  committ  him  for  Tryal  and  Detain  the  Flour. 
Previous  to  the  Return  of  the  Express  Dis 
patched  with  our  Report  to  the  Council  Helms 
made  his  Escape  and  has  not  appeared  here  since. 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

The  Flour  was  Hurried  up  some  in  old  Cyder 
Hogsheads  the  Rest  in  Barrels  not  well  secured 
has  been  exposed  to  wett  and  is  in  Danger  of 
Spoiling.  Your  Excellencies  Directions  Respect 
ing  this  matter  will  be  Esteemed  as  a  favour  done 
to  your  most  Obedient  and  Humble  Servants 

JOSEPH  CRANE  JUNR 
HENRY  LUDINTON 
His  Excellency  Governor  Clinton. 

The  man  Holmes  mentioned  was  Colonel  John 
Holmes,  one  of  the  most  wary  and  energetic  Tories 
in  that  part  of  the  country.  He  was  famed  as  a 
breeder  and  racer  of  horses,  and  had  a  stock  farm 
near  Colonel  Ludington's.  Indeed,  he  and  Luding- 
ton  were  neighbors  and  friends  before  the  outbreak 
of  the  war,  but  in  the  animosities  engendered  by  that 
conflict  they  were  involved  as  bitter  foes.  Holmes 
had  a  commission  from  the  British  authorizing  him  to 
enlist  men  for  their  service,  and  for  this  purpose  he 
had  a  recruiting  station  on  Fishkill  Plains  in  an  out- 
of-the-way  place — a  field  covered  with  scrub  oak. 
There  he  gathered  Tories  and  drilled  them  for  the 
British  service.  He  often  boasted  privately  that  his 
friend  Ludington  would  one  day  accompany  him  on 
a  visit  to  General  Howe  at  New  York — meaning,  of 
course,  as  a  prisoner.  Colonel  Ludington,  however, 
completely  turned  the  tables  upon  his  old  neighbor 
and  would-be  captor.  Learning  from  his  secret 
agents  that  Holmes  was  collecting  a  company  of 
Tories  on  the  Fishkill  Plains,  he  quietly  gathered  his 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

own  regiment  for  what  he  warned  them  was  to  be  an 
undertaking  of  much  activity  and  danger.  After 
several  days  of  preparation,  he  led  his  men  at  night 
to  the  Tory  rendezvous.  Dividing  them  into  com 
panies,  he  caused  them  completely  to  encircle  the 
scrub  oak  field  and  close  in  upon  it  from  all  sides.  So 
quietly  and  effectively  was  the  work  done  that 
Holmes  and  every  one  of  his  followers  were  cap 
tured,  without  the  loss  of  a  life  or  the  firing  of  a 
single  shot.  There  were,  however,  several  severe  hand- 
to-hand  struggles,  in  one  of  which  Colonel  Luding- 
ton  himself  had  a  brand  new  suit  of  clothes  almost 
entirely  torn  from  his  back.  Holmes  was  furious  at 
being  thus  trapped,  and  the  more  so  when  he  found 
that  Ludington  was  his  captor.  He  was  compelled 
to  give  up  as  spoils  of  war  his  watch  and  purse,  and  a 
large  sum  of  British  money  which  had  been  given  to 
him  for  the  conduct  of  his  recruiting  operations.  Col 
onel  Ludington  then  marched  the  whole  party  off  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  deposited  them  in  jail.  He  ap 
pears  to  have  had  no  personal  grudge  against 
Holmes,  however,  and  on  a  subsequent  occasion 
saved  his  life  at  much  danger  to  himself. 

The  ardent  patriots  of  the  border  counties  were  not 
content  with  merely  these  acts  of  forcible  suppres 
sion  of  traitorous  conduct,  but  desired  to  strike  still 
more  strongly  and  effectively  at  the  foes  of  their  own 
neighborhood.  An  act  of  the  Convention  had  already 
authorized  the  occupation  and  leasing  at  moderate 
rentals  of  all  lands  owned  by  those  who  had  entered 

[ISO] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

the  British  service.  At  first  there  was  little  disposi 
tion  to  enforce  the  measure,  but  as  the  Revolution 
proceeded,  and  the  "pernicious  activity"  of  the 
Tories  became  more  marked,  the  people  of  Dutchess 
County  moved  for  the  execution  of  the  law.  The 
following  letter  was  accordingly  addressed  to  Gov 
ernor  Clinton  by  the  Board  of  Sequestration  of  that 
county: 

To  his  Excellency  George  Clinton,  Esq. 

Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  General 
of  the  Militia,  and  Admiral  of  the  Navy  of  the 
same. 

The  Memorial  of  Theodorus  Van  Wyck  and 
Henry  Livingston  Jun.  Commissioners  of  Se 
questration  for  the  County  of  Dutchess. 

Sheweth,  That,  whereas,  on  the  13th  day  of 
May,  1777,  The  honorable  the  Convention  of  the 
Representatives  of  the  State  of  New  York  came 
to  the  following  resolution  "Resolved  that  the 
Commissioners  of  sequestration  be  directed  &  im- 
powered  to  lease  out  the  lands  &  Tenements  of  all 
such  persons  as  already  have  gone,  or  hereafter 
shall  go,  unto  &  Join  the  Enemies  of  this  State, 
under  Moderate  rent,  from  year  to  year,  to  per 
sons  friendly  to  the  cause  of  America  &  who  will 
Covenant  to  keep  the  same  in  repair  &  to  suffer 
no  waste  to  be  done  thereon"-  And  again  "Re 
solved,  that  in  all  such  leases  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  State  who  have  been  driven  from  their  Habi 
tations  by  the  Enemy  should  be  preferred  by  the 
Commissioners  to  others  who  have  not  that  claim 
to  the  favor  of  the  public." 

Agreeable  to  the  above  resolutions  your  Me- 

[15111 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

morialists  have  put  numbers  of  well  affected 
Refugees  Inhabitants  of  this  State  into  the  pos 
session  of  lands  and  tenements  deserted  by  the 
former  disaffected  proprietors.  As  yet  your  Me 
morialists  have  stipulated  with  but  very  few  of 
the  Refugees  aforesaid,  what  rent  they  shall  pay 
for  the  lands  &  tenements  they  Occupy.  Your 
Memorialists  wish  to  have  pointed  out  to  them, 
what  proportion  of  the  highest  rent  they  could 
obtain  from  others,  for  lands  and  tenements 
above  described,  the  said  Refugees  should  pay. 

Your  Memorialists  would  also  beg  leave  to 
represent  to  your  Excellency,  that  numbers  of 
persons  now  with  our  Enemies  own  large  tracts 
of  land  in  this  County;  Many  of  the  tenants  on 
which  are  desirous  of  discharging  their  rents,  and 
have  in  many  instances  applyed  to  your  Me 
morialists  for  direction.  By  virtue  of  any 
Resolutions  made  by  the  Legislature  your 
Memorialists  do  not  think  themselves  authorized 
to  receive  the  Same. 

If  the  Legislature  see  fit  to  direct  to  have  the 
above  rents  collected  your  Memorialists  wish  the 
Estates  may  be  particularized. 

Your  Memorialists  would  also  inform  your 
Excellency  that  they  have  in  their  possession  a 
quantity  of  plate  late  the  property  of  Mess.  John 
Livingston,  Peter  Stuyvesant  and  Stephen 
Crossfield,  and  be  given  direction  in  the  disposi 
tion  of  it. 

And  your  Memorialists  will  &c. 

THEODORUS  VAN  WYCK, 
HENRY  LIVINGSTON  JUN'R. 

March  16th  1778. 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

The  governor's  reply  to  this  appeal  was  not  alto 
gether  satisfactory  to  the  more  ardent  patriots,  who 
were  suffering  much  in  their  private  estates  from  the 
ravages  of  British  irregulars  and  their  Tory  allies, 
and  accordingly  a  memorial  was  soon  presented  to 
the  Convention  asking  for  further  legislation  of  a 
particularly  stringent  kind.  Made  by  the  freehold 
ers  and  citizens  of  Dutchess  County,  this  memorial 
was  doubtless  signed  by  Colonel  Ludington  together 
with  many  others,  and  expressed  his  vigorous  opin 
ions.  It  ran  as  follows : 

To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  New  York, 

The  respectful  address  and  petition  of  the  Free 
holders  and  Others,  Inhabitants  of  the  County  of 
Dutchess,  Friends  to  the  freedom  and  Independ 
ence  of  the  United  States  of  America, 

Humbly  Sheweth: 

That  the  nefarious  and  most  cruel  Designs  of 
the  King  and  parliament  of  Great  Britain,  to  re 
duce  our  Country  to  Vasalage,  have  been  and  still 
continue  to  be  executed  with  a  degree  of  Malice 
and  Rancour,  altogether  inconsistent  with  the 
character  of  a  Nation  professing  Christianity,  or 
even  a  regard  to  common  Justice  and  humanity; 
that  while  your  petitioners  in  defence  of  their 
Rights  and  freedom  have  opposed  the  devices  in 
spired  by  Tyranny,  and  have  suffered  severely, 
many  of  them  in  their  own  proper  persons,  and 
effects,  and  all  in  those  of  their  friends  and  fellow 
citizens;  they  have  always  had,  as  they  hope,  a 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

well  grounded  confidence  in  the  Wisdom  and 
Justice  of  an  honest,  impartial  Legislature,  by 
whom  they  trust  such  an  adequate  adjustment  of 
forfeited  property  will  be  effected  as  may  duly 
punish  the  authors  of  the  publick  Calamities,  re 
lieve  the  distressed  and  be  the  most  conducive  to 
the  General  good  of  the  State. 

That  as  you  are  now  entering  upon  the  Busi 
ness  of  the  second  year  of  the  Legislature  of  this 
State,  we  Doubt  not  but  a  Variety  of  important 
matters  presents  themselves  to  your  considera 
tion,  among  which,  in  our  opinion,  one  of  the 
greatest  is  the  confiscation  and  sale  of  the  prop 
erty  of  the  Traitorous  Enemies  of  this  State ;  that 
our  Debts  contracted  in  prosecuting  this  neces 
sary  War,  are  become  enormous ;  that  the  whole 
of  this  Burden  will  be  as  intolerable  for  us  and 
our  children  to  bear,  as  it  will  be  cruel  to  exact  it 
of  us ;  That  the  only  expedient  for  our  relief  will 
be  the  appropriation  of  the  property  within  this 
State,  of  those  unnatural  Enemies,  (whether  now 
within  or  out  of  it)  by  whose  wicked  practices  the 
War,  with  all  its  horrors,  Calamities  and  conse 
quent  charges,  was  brought  upon  us  and  is  con 
tinued  to  this  present  period  in  the  American 
States  by  them  devoted  to  destruction.  To  this 
end  have  they  not  exerted  every  faculty,  cancelled 
every  social  and  sacred  Obligation,  and  to  the  ut 
most  assisted  the  Enemies  of  their  Country,  irri 
tated  them  against  it,  and  urged  them  to  com- 
pleat  its  distruction?  Have  not  many  of  them 
embodied  with  the  British  Troops,  assisted  in 
their  councils,  aided  and  abetted  them  in  contriv 
ing  and  executing  all  their  infernal  measures? 

Lenity  to  such  atrocious  offenders,  we  conceive 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

to  be  cruelty  to  the  State  in  General,  and  to  man 
kind,  unwarrantable  either  by  the  Laws  of  God 
or  Man. 

These  are,  therefore,  with  all  due  deference  and 
respect,  to  desire  and  request  you,  as  the  rep 
resentative  body  of  this  State,  forthwith  to  pro 
ceed  upon,  and  before  the  close  of  the  present 
Session,  effectually  form  and  accomplish  a  Law 
for  the  confiscation  and  sale  of  the  Real  and  per 
sonal  property  of  the  Enemies  of  this  State,  in 
such  way  and  manner  as  may  be  for  the  good  of 
the  people  at  Large,  and  we  Doubt  not,  in  the 
Completion  of  so  important  an  Act,  but  you  will 
readily  forego  every  private  Conveniency  to 
yourselves  and  particular  families. 

We  have  with  surprise  and  concern  under 
stood  that  several  members  of  your  honorable 
Houses  are  impatient  to  close  the  Session,  on  ac 
count  of  their  Domestic  concerns.  We  would 
humbly  beg  leave  to  remind  such  gentlemen  that, 
however  pressing  their  private  affairs  may  be,  the 
publick  Demands  ought  to  be  first  attended  to, 
as  in  them  the  Interest  of  every  Individual  is  de 
volved;  and  in  particular  this  Act  ought  by  no 
means  to  be  postponed.  The  publick  Debts,  the 
alarming  Depreciation  of  our  paper  money,  are 
pressing,  and  will  admit  of  no  delay.  The  pres 
ent  and  not  the  future  is  in  your  power,  and  were 
it  necessary  to  use  arguments  on  this  subject  to 
patriots,  it  would  be  easy  to  show  that  the  delay 
of  this  Act  to  another  Session  is  big  with  uncer 
tainty  of  its  passing  at  all,  and  therefore  of  the 
most  dangerous  consequences  to  this  State. 
Especially  as  it  will  occasion  universal  uneasiness 
and  in  all  probability  produce  Tumults  and  in- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

surrections,  and  tend  to  a  Domestic  Tyranny  and 
confusion  as  much  to  be  dreaded  as  the  evils 
brought  upon  us  by  our  connections  with  Great 
Britain,  the  Effects  of  which  we  thus  wofully  ex 
perience.  Tho'  thro'  the  smiles  of  Heaven  upon 
our  past  endeavors,  we  are  now  arrived  within 
view  of  our  native  inheritance,  the  promised 
Land  of  peace  and  freedom,  to  which  we  look 
with  longing  Eyes.  But  our  unremited  exertions 
are  still  necessary  to  bring  us  to  the  Haven  of 
rest.  Else  all  our  past  Labors  may  still  prove  in 
vain,  all  our  fair  prospects  be  darkened  by  Inter 
vening  Clouds,  that  may  drive  us  again  upon  a 
tempestuous  sea  of  trouble  till  we  are  over 
whelmed  and  Lost.  To  prevent  this  we  and  all 
your  Constituents  look  up  with  Anxious  Expec 
tations  to  you,  on  whom  is  devolved  the  care  of 
the  State  Vessel,  and  on  whom  we  depend  to 
pilot  it  into  a  port  of  safety;  and  we  trust  your 
vigilance  and  unwearied  application  to  the  im 
portant  Duties  of  your  Station  will  be  continued 
till  the  great  End  is  Obtained,  for  which  as  in 
Duty  bound  we  shall  ever  pray,  &c. 

Poughkeepsie,  October  22nd,  1778. 

It  was  inevitable  that  his  activity  and  zeal  in  pro 
moting  and  executing  such  measures  should  make 
Colonel  Ludington  an  object  of  especial  antipathy 
to  the  local  Tories  and  also  to  the  British  authorities 
in  New  York.  He  was  regarded  by  them  as  one  of 
the  chief  obstacles  to  the  raising  of  troops  and  the 
securing  of  supplies  for  the  British  Army  in  the 
border  region.  Accordingly  the  strongest  efforts 

C156] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

were  made  to  get  rid  of  him,  either  by  death  or  cap 
ture.    On  more  than  one  occasion  he  was  shot  at  by 
hidden  marksmen   by   the   wayside   and   narrowly 
escaped  being  killed.    The  British  authorities  offered 
a  reward  of  three  hundred  guineas  for  his  person, 
and  more   than   one   of   his   disaffected   neighbors 
sought  to  win  that  prize.    Much  of  the  time  his  house 
was  guarded  by  a  detachment  of  his  regiment,  but 
often  for  days  and  weeks  when  he  was  at  home  his 
only  sentinels  were  his  two  older  daughters,  Sibyl 
and  Rebecca.     These  children  would  sit  for  hours, 
armed  with  heavy  muskets,  at  the  upper  windows, 
behind    casks    on    the    piazza,    or    in    a    neighbor 
ing  cornfield,  watching  for  the  approach  of  sus 
picious  or  openly  hostile  characters  and  ready  to  give 
their  father  warning.    One  night  they  espied  a  num 
ber  of  moving  figures,   lurking  behind  trees  and 
fences,  and  at  once  waked  their  father  with  the  warn 
ing  that  Tories  were  surrounding  the  house.   Colonel 
Ludington,  having  no  aid  at  hand  sufficient  to  offer 
defense,  resorted  to  a  ruse.     He  hurriedly  aroused 
the  inmates  and  distributed  them  through  all  the 
rooms,  each  with  a  musket  and  a  lighted  candle.  The 
general  illumination  of  the  building,  the  signs  of  com 
motion,  and  the  shadows  of  moving  and  armed  fig 
ures  on  every  window  blind,  persuaded  the  Tories 
that  a  company  of  soldiers  was  in  the  house.     They 
therefore  feared  to  make  the  attack  which  they  had 
intended,  but  contented  themselves  with  yelling  and 
hooting  in  the  adjoining  woods  until  day  began  to 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

break,  when  they  retired  down  the  road  to  the  south 
ward,  through  the  little  settlement  which  then  oc 
cupied  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Carmel. 

The  next  day  Colonel  Ludington  ascertained  that 
his  nocturnal  visitors  were  Tories  from  Quaker  Hill 
and  Pawling,  under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Prosser, 
who  has  already  been  mentioned  in  this  narrative, 
and  were  about  forty  in  number.  Prosser  was  a 
neighbor  of  Colonel  Ludington's,  but  was  also  his 
bitter  enemy,  and  was  one  of  the  most  virulent  Tories 
in  all  that  region.  He  was  that  night  leading  his 
company  down  to  New  York  to  join  the  British 
Army,  and  had  planned  to  kill  or  capture  Colonel 
Ludington  and  thus  secure  the  reward  of  three  hun 
dred  guineas  which  General  Howe  had  offered. 
After  the  war  Prosser  returned  to  Dutchess  County 
to  live,  thinking  his  Toryism  would  be  forgotten  or 
condoned.  But  Colonel  Ludington  had  not  forgot 
ten  nor  forgiven  his  midnight  attempt  at  murder  or 
capture.  One  day  the  two  men  met  on  the  highway 
at  Patterson,  both  being  on  horseback.  As  soon  as 
Prosser  caught  sight  of  the  man  whom  he  had  tried  to 
"remove,"  he  turned  and  attempted  to  avoid  him. 
But  Colonel  Ludington  and  his  horse  were  too  quick 
for  him.  Overtaking  him  the  Colonel  belabored  him 
with  a  heavy  rawhide  whip  and  gave  him  a  most 
thorough  flogging,  which  of  course  Prosser  could  not 
venture  to  resent  by  legal  means. 

On  another  occasion  during  the  war  two  gentle 
men  and  their  servants,  strangers,  stopped  at  Colonel 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

Ludington's  house  and  asked  for  entertainment  for 
the  night.  They  were  received  with  some  misgivings 
as  to  their  loyalty.  Some  time  after  they  had  retired 
the  watching  members  of  the  family  perceived  that 
the  house  was  surrounded  by  armed  men.  Suspect 
ing  that  the  strangers  were  in  league  with  the  be 
siegers,  they  went  to  their  room,  roused  them,  and  at 
the  muzzles  of  muskets  demanded  to  know  who  they 
were  and  what  was  their  business.  The  strangers 
managed  to  assure  them  that  they  were  friends,  and 
thereupon  joined  the  family  in  lighting  up  the  house 
and  giving  it  the  appearance  of  a  well-garrisoned 
stronghold.  As  on  the  former  occasion  the  ruse  was 
effective  and  the  attacking  party  withdrew. 

Colonel  Ludington's  activities  and  also  his  diffi 
culties  in  raising  troops  for  various  purposes  are  sug 
gested  in  some  of  his  correspondence  with  Governor 
Clinton : 

I  would  inform  your  Excelency  that  I  have 
proceeded  to  Raise  the  Companey  aloted  me  to 
Raise  as  my  Quota  and  Expect  them  to  march  on 
Munday  next;  in  Regard  of  officering  the  Com 
paney  I  have  Been  obliged  to  Borow  a  point,  and 
thought  it  my  Duty  to  acquaint  his  Excelency  in 
that  manner;  the  man  apointed  as  Capt.  Did  not 
Belong  to  the  militia — who  is  Capt.  Elijah 
Tounsand  the  Barer — But  has  Been  the  most  of 
the  time  in  Service  Since  the  war  Began  and  has 
Been  Captain  with  me  in  the  3  months  Service  at 
the  Plains  and  I  Conceive  him  to  Be  more  Suit 
able  to  Command  a  companey  than  one  of  the 

D59  3 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

militia  Captains;  would  therefore  take  it  as  a 
favour  if  you  would  give  him  his  Comision ;  the  1 
Lieut,  is  John  Berrey,  a  militia  officer;  the  2 
Lieut,  is  Mr.  William  McTine  a  young  man  who 
formerly  Lived  at  the  White  Plains  and  now  has 
moved  among  us,  has  never  Born  a  commision  in 
the  militia,  But  is  Lookt  upon  to  Be  a  proper 
person  for  it,  as  he  is  a  man  well  acquainted  with 
the  part  of  the  Country  where  he  is  going  and 
very  Capable  of  performing  the  office.  Sir  I 
hope  it  will  Be  agreable  to  his  Excelency  to  grant 
Commisions  to  the  above  mentioned  persons  and 
in  So  doing  you  will  mutch  oblige  your  Humble 
Servant 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 

Fredricksburgh  May  Id  1778. 

To  his  Excelency  George  Clinton  Esqr.  Gov 
ernor. 


To  this  Clinton  promptly  replied: 

Poughkeepsie  1st  May  1778. 
Sir,  I  have  rec'd  your  Letter  of  equal  Date. 
By  the  Law  for  raising  the  700  Men  for  the  De 
fence  of  the  State  the  Officers  are  to  be  taken 
from  the  Militia.  If,  therefore,  Capt.  Townsend 
is  to  Command  the  Company  you  must  have  him 
appointed  a  Capt.  in  your  Regt.  &  the  other 
Gentleman  a  Lieut.,  otherwise  it  will  be  impos 
sible  to  give  them  the  Command  tho'  I  wish  to  do 
it.  I  have  convened  the  Council  of  Appointment 
to  meet  at  this  Place  this  Day  to  compleat  the 
Military  Appointments.  I  must,  therefore, 

[160] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

again  call  upon  you  for  the  proper  Returns  of 
your  Regiment,  agreable  to  former  Orders  to 
enable  us  to  perfect  the  Appointments  therein. 
I  think  it  would  be  best  for  you  to  attend  here  in 
Person  on  Monday  next  at  farthest.  I  am  your 
Most  Obed't  Serv't 

GEO.  CLINTON. 
Colo.  Ludington. 

The  British  raid  up  the  Hudson,  with  the  burning 
of  Kingston,  already  mentioned,  provoked  much  ac 
tivity  throughout  the  border  region,  and  resulted  in 
added  suffering  to  the  unfortunate  inhabitants.  Im 
mediately  after  the  burning  of  Kingston  the  Com 
mittee  of  Safety,  meeting  at  Marbletown,  adopted 
the  following: 

Whereas,  The  late  destruction  of  the  town  of 
Kingston,  and  a  vast  number  of  dwelling  houses, 
improvements,  grain  and  fodder  on  either  side  of 
Hudson's  River,  by  a  cruel,  inhuman  and  merci 
less  enemy,  has  deprived  many  persons  and  fam 
ilies,  the  good  subjects  of  the  State,  of  shelter  and 
subsistence  for  themselves  and  their  cattle— 
calamities  which  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  the 
fruits  of  this  land  those  who  have  not  shared  in  so 
uncommon  a  misfortune  are  enabled  in  a  great 
measure  to  relieve ; 

Resolved,  Therefore,  that  it  be,  and  it  is  hereby 
most  earnestly  recommended  to  the  several  and 
respective  general  and  district  committees  of  the 
counties  of  Ulster,  Dutchess,  Orange  and  West- 
chester,  to  make,  or  cause  to  be  made,  a  proper 
and  proportionate  distribution  of  the  aforesaid 

[161] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

distressed  persons  and  families,  and  their  cattle, 
to  the  end  that  they  may  all  be  provided  for  as  the 
circumstances  of  the  country  will  permit;  and  it 
is  hereby  most  strenuously  urged  on  all  those  who 
may  not  have  shared  with  them  in  their  afflictions 
to  receive  the  aforesaid  persons,  families  and  cat 
tle,  and  furnish  them  with  shelter  and  subsistence 
at  a  moderate  rate. 

To  this  humane  appeal  the  patriotic  part  of  the 
population  cordially  responded,  but  of  course  the 
British  sympathizers  were  reluctant  to  do  so.  Their 
reluctance  and  refusal  brought  upon  them,  however, 
the  increased  wrath  of  the  patriots,  and  incited  to  in 
creased  zeal  the  committees  whose  province  it  was  to 
deal  with  the  disaffected.  Among  these,  Colonel 
Ludington  was  prominent,  though  he  exercised  his 
powers  with  a  certain  humane  discretion  and  was  not 
inclined  to  be  cruelly  vindictive  even  toward  the  most 
malignant  Tories.  A  letter  of  his  to  the  Commis 
sioners  of  Sequestration,  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  William  E.  Dean,  of  Fishkill,  runs  as  follows, 
its  reference  being  to  the  "Red  Mills,"  near  Lake 
Mahopac: 

Gentlemen 

Mr.  Cox  has  been  with  me  this  day  and  in 
formed  me  that  the  Mills  are  likely  to  be  taken 
from  him  and  to  Be  put  into  the  Hands  of  Mrs. 
Cammels  and  2  other  persons,  the  two  Mrs  Cam 
els  I  am  well  acquainted  with  and  would  do  Every 
thing  in  my  power  to  serve  them  But  when  you 
come  to  consider  upon  this  matter  You  may  find 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

they  may  Be  Settled  at  preasent  in  such  a  manner 
that  they  may  Remain  where  they  are  for  a  while 
and  be  Less  Damidge  to  them  than  it  will  be  to 
Mr.  Cox  to  turn  out  at  this  season  of  the  year  and 
so  sudden  as  he  is  Required  to  Do.  it  will  Be 
easy  for  you  to  Judg  what  a  bad  plight  it  will 
naturally  put  him  to.  therefore  should  take  it  as  a 
favour  if  you  would  Let  Him  Remain  until  he 
can  have  an  oportunity  of  settling  Himself  in 
Some  other  place,  this  far  can  be  said  of  Mr.  Cox 
it  is  generally  Believed  that  He  Has  done  Justice 
to  the  publick  while  He  has  occupyed  the  mills 
and  in  the  Commisary  Department  which  he  has 
been  in  since  Last  fall.  But  However  gentlemen 
I  would  not  Be  understood  that  I  am  to  dictate 
you  in  those  affairs  and  am  and  remain  your  Real 
Friend 

and  Humble  Servant 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 
Fredericksburgh  January  29th,  1779 

Mr  Henery  Livingston 
&  Theds  Van  Wick 

The  Comitioners  Sequestration 
Dutchess  County. 


Another  letter,  also  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Dean, 
runs  as  follows : 

Dear  Sir 

I  have  just  had  an  information  of  a  score  of 
Sheep  in  the  hands  of  one  Josiah  Swift  Rented  to 
him  By  a  person  who  Hath  Been  Sundry  years 

C163] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

with  the  Enemy  and  Likewise  Sum  Cattell  in  the 
Hands  of  Henry  Charlick  which  Belonged  to  one 
Ellston  which  the  Bearer  can  inform  you  of,  and 
the  Bearer  is  the  person  who  moved  Ellston's  wife 
and  family  and  John  Millars  and  wishes  that  the 
Discovery  he  had  maid  of  those  Cattel  might  be 
an  inducement  to  the  Commisoners  to  give  him 
Sum  Satisfaction  for  moving  the  2  families 
Down  to  the  Lines 

am  Sir  your  very  humble  Servant 

HENRY  LUDINTON 
To  Theodorus  Van  wayk  Esqs 

P  S  I  believe  I  am  on  track  of  a  very  Con 
siderable  deal  of  property  conseald  Belonging  to 
Kain  and  Morison 

This  letter  was  addressed  to  "Theodorus  Van  wayk 
Esqs  pr  Mr.  Daniel  Haselton  For  want  of  wafer 
this  is  not  seald" 

The  sternness  of  the  dealings  of  the  State  with 
British  sympathizers  was  strikingly  shown  in  the  law 
which  was  made  by  the  State  Convention  on  October 
22,  1779,  which  ran  in  part: 

Whereas  during  the  present  war  .  .  .  divers 
persons  holding  or  claiming  property  within  this 
State  have  voluntarily  been  adherent  to  the  King, 
his  fleets  and  armies,  enemies  of  this  State  .  .  . 
whereof  the  said  persons  have  severally  and 
justly  forfeited  all  right  to  the  protection  of  the 
State  and  the  benefit  of  laws  under  which  prop 
erty  is  held  or  claimed  .  .  .  Be  it  enacted  that 

D64] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

the  said  several  persons  hereinbefore  particularly 
named  shall  be  and  are  hereby  declared  forever 
banished  from  this  State,  and  each  and  every  one 
of  them  who  shall  at  any  time  hereafter  be  found 
in  any  part  of  this  State  shall  be  and  are  hereby 
declared  guilty  of  felony,  and  shall  suffer  death 
as  in  cases  of  felony,  without  benefit  of  clergy. 


A  mahogany  table  belonging  to  Colonel  Ludington,  at  which, 
according  to  family  tradition,  Washington 

and  Rochambeau  dined 
(Now  in  the  possession  of  Charles  Henry  Ludington) 


Fredericksburgh  and  the  neighborhood  were  fre 
quently  traversed  by  officers  and  bodies  of  troops, 
especially  in  making  the  journey  from  Hartford  and 
New  Haven  to  Fishkill.  Washington  himself  often 
made  that  journey,  and  was  a  familiar  guest  at  Col- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

onel  Ludington's  house.  On  one  occasion  Washing 
ton  and  Rochambeau,  on  their  way  from  Hartford 
to  Fishkill,  called  there  for  dinner. 

In  the  journal  of  Captain  William  Beatty,  of  the 
Maryland  Line,  the  following  entry  occurs  under 
date  of  Sunday,  September  20,  1778: 

"We  marched  about  four  miles  past  Fredericks- 
burgh,  where  we  lay  until  the  22nd,  on  which  day  our 
division  marched  about  12  miles  towards  Fishkill. 
At  this  place  we  lay  until  the  28th,  when  we  marched 
to  Fishkills."  It  seems  probable  that  on  this  march 
the  troops,  presumably  under  Baron  De  Kalb,  passed 
by  Colonel  Ludington's  house,  and  were  halted  there 
for  the  two  days  mentioned.  If  so,  their  stopping 
there  and  paying  in  scrip  for  the  food  supplied  by 
the  Ludingtons  form  the  basis  of  the  tradition  in  the 
Ludington  family,  that  at  one  time  Colonel  Luding- 
ton  received  so  much  depreciated  currency  from  the 
soldiers  that  he  scarcely  knew  what  to  do  with  it,  and 
finally  stored  it  under  the  floor  boards  of  his  house 
for  safe  keeping.  Mrs.  Ludington  collected  it  from 
the  soldiers  in  her  apron,  and  got  her  apron  running 
over  full.  Long  afterward  Colonel  Ludington 
burned  a  trunkful  of  the  stuff,  as  worthless  litter. 

The  Ludington  house,  standing,  as  before  men 
tioned,  on  the  great  highway  from  Hartford  to  the 
Hudson,  was  often  resorted  to  by  travelers  as  an  inn, 
and  while  the  British  held  New  York  City,  the 
greater  part  of  all  travel  between  New  England  and 
the  other  colonies  passed  that  way.  William  Ellery, 

[166] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

of  Massachusetts,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In 
dependence,  traveled  that  road  and  stopped  at  Col 
onel  Ludington's  in  the  fall  of  1777,  on  his  way  from 
his  home  at  Dighton,  Massachusetts,  to  York,  Penn 
sylvania,  to  attend  the  session  of  the  First  Conti 
nental  Congress.  He  was  accompanied  by  the  Hon. 
Francis  Dana  and  his  servant,  whom  he  calls,  in  his 
whimsical  diary,  respectively  Don  Quixote  and 
Sancho  Panza,  while  to  himself  he  gives  the  title  of 
Pill  Garlick.  Under  date  of  "Road  to  Danbury, 
Nov.  5th,"  he  records: 

We  intended  when  we  reached  Litchfield  to 
have  gone  to  Peekskill,  and  there  crossed  the 
North  River,  but  when  we  got  to  Danbury  we 
were  dissuaded  from  it  by  the  Person  at  whose 
house  we  breakfasted,  who  told  us  that  there  were 
Tories  and  Horse  stealers  on  that  road.  This  ac 
count  occasioned  us  to  take  the  Fishkill  road. 
Accordingly  we  set  off,  baited  at  the  foot  of 
Quaker  Hill,  about  7  miles  from  Danbury,  and 
reached  Colonel  Ludington's  8  miles  from  the 
foregoing  stage  at  night.  Here  mens  meminisse 
horret!  We  were  told  by  our  landlady  the  Col. 
was  gone  to  New  Windsor,  that  there  was  a 
guard  on  the  road  between  Fishkill  and  Peeks- 
kill,  that  one  of  the  guard  had  been  killed,  about 
6  miles  off,  and  that  a  man  not  long  before  had 
been  shot  at  on  the  road  to  Fishkill  not  more  than 
three  miles  from  their  house  and  that  a  guard  had 
been  placed  there  for  some  time  past,  and  had 
been  dismissed  only  three  days.  We  were  now  in 
a  doleful  pickle,  not  a  male  in  the  house  but  Don 

[16711 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Quixote  and  his  man  Sancho  and  poor  Pill  Gar- 
lick,  and  no  lodging  for  the  first  and  last  but  in  a 
lower  room  without  any  shutters  to  the  windows 
or  locks  to  the  doors.  What  was  to  be  done? 
What  could  be  done?  In  the  first  place  we  forti 
fied  our  Stomachs  with  Beefsteak  and  Grogg 
and  then  went  to  work  to  fortify  ourselves  against 
an  attack.  The  Knight  of  the  woeful  counte 
nance  asked  whether  there  were  any  guns  in  the 
house.  Two  were  produced,  one  of  them  in  good 
order.  Nails  were  fixed  over  the  windows,  the 
Guns  placed  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  a  pistol  un 
der  each  of  our  pillows,  and  the  Hanger  against 
the  bedpost,  thus  accoutered  and  prepared  at  all 
points  our  heroes  went  to  bed.  Whether  the  val 
iant  Knight  slept  a  wink  or  not,  Pill  Garlick  can 
not  say,  for  he  was  so  overcome  with  fatigue,  and 
his  animal  spirits  were  so  solaced  with  the  beef 
and  the  grogg,  that  every  trace  of  fear  was  utterly 
erased  from  his  imagination  and  he  slept  soundly 
from  evening  till  morning,  save  that  at  midnight, 
as  he  fancieth,  he  was  waked  by  his  companion, 
with  this  interesting  Question,  delivered  with  a 
tremulous  voice,  "What  noise  is  that?"  He  lis 
tened  and  soon  discovered  that  the  noise  was  oc 
casioned  by  some  rats  gnawing  the  head  of  a 
bread  cask.  After  satisfying  the  Knight  about 
the  noise,  he  took  his  second  and  finishing  nap. 

Again,  in  Colonel  Israel  Angell's  diary,  cited  by 
Mr.  Patrick,  we  find : 

29th  Nov,  1779.  This  morning  after  breakfast 
I  got  my  horses  Shodd,  Crost  the  North  River 
over  to  fishkill.  Went  on  for  Danbury,  Col 

[1683 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

Greene  and  Mr.  Griffen.  Greene  went  for 
Springfield  so  we  parted  about  six  miles  from 
fishkill,  but  Still  could  get  nothing  for  our  horses, 
till  riding  ten  or  twelve  miles,  there  Dind  and  fed 
our  horses,  then  went  to  Colo  Luttentons  Tavern 
among  the  Mountains  21  miles  from  fishkills 
there  put  up  for  the  night,  one  of  Col.  Livings 
ton's  Officers  came  to  this  Tavern  in  the  Evening 
on  his  way  home  on  a  furlough. 

Nov.  30th,  1779.    Left  my  lodgings  this  morn 
ing  after  breakfast  went  on  for  D anbury. 

It  is  probable,  indeed,  that  for  a  time  Washington 
himself  made  Colonel  Ludington's  house  his  head 
quarters.  In  the  late  summer  and  fall  of  1778  he 
had  his  army  in  that  region,  and  made  his  own  head 
quarters  at  Fredericksburgh,  as  related  by  Irving 
and  Lossing.  He  wrote,  under  date  of  Fredericks- 
burgh  on  September  12  and  23,  describing  the  dis 
position  of  his  army,  "the  second  line,  with  Lord 
Sterling,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fredericksburgh."  He 
was  there  with  the  exception  of  a  week  from  Sep 
tember  12  to  the  end  of  November.  Part  of  the  time 
his  headquarters  were  at  the  house  of  John  Kane — 
also  spelled  Kain  and  Keane.  This  house  stood  on  the 
site  since  occupied  by  the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  H. 
Roberts,  at  Pawling,  and  was  a  large  house,  con 
nected  by  a  stone -walled  passageway  with  another 
large  stone  building,  the  ground  floor  of  which  was 
used  as  a  store  and  the  upper  story  for  dwelling  pur 
poses.  The  land  was  a  part  of  Beverly  Robinson's 
estate.  Kane,  of  whom  mention  has  already  been 

£169  3 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

made  in  Colonel  Ludington's  correspondence,  was  a 
Tory  and  was  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  patriots. 
Under  the  law  of  October,  1779,  his  estate  was  con 
fiscated,  and  he,  a  dignified  and  venerable  magistrate, 
was  tied  to  the  tail  of  a  cart  and  drummed  out  of 
town. 

We  have  already  quoted  correspondence  between 
Governor  Clinton  and  Colonel  Ludington,  showing 
the  difficulties  which  were  encountered  in  raising 
troops  for  various  services.  As  time  went  on  these 
difficulties  increased  rather  than  diminished,  so  that 
now  and  then  the  governor  was  impatient  at  the  un 
avoidable  delay.  Thus  he  wrote  on  one  occasion  as 
follows: 

Pokeepsie  9th  June  1779. 
Sir, 

I  wrote  to  you  a  few  Days  ago  requesting  you 
to  expedite  the  raising  of  the  Levies  to  be  fur 
nished  by  your  Regiment  but  as  I  have  not  since 
heard  from  you  I  conclude  the  Letter  has  mis 
carried.  I  have  now  therefore  to  repeat  my  Or 
ders  that  your  Quota  be  raised  with  all  Dispatch 
and  marched  down  under  the  Command  of  an 
active  subaltern  to  join  the  Detachment  from 
Major  Crane's  and  Colo.  Drake's  Regimts  (sta 
tioned  at  Crompond,  to  cover  the  Country  there 
from  the  Depredations  of  the  Enemy)  until  my 
further  Orders. 

I  will  send  an  Officer  to  relieve,  as  soon  as  pos 
sible,  the  subaltern  you  shall  appoint  for  this  ser 
vice. 

As  I  think  it  more  than  probable  that  I  shall 

C170] 


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ReducEd  Fac-similE  ni  Letter,  frorn  G-overnar  G-earge  Clinton, 
to  Col.  Henry  Ludington. 

(Original  in  possession  of  Charles  H.  Ludington.  N«w  York  City  ) 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

be  under  a  Necessity  of  employing  the  Levies 
from  your  Regiment,  in  the  Quarter  to  which 
they  are  now  directed,  I  expect  it  will  be  an  In 
ducement  to  the  Officers  to  exert  themselves  in 
raising  them  and  that  the  Men  may  more  easily  be 
obtained.  I  have  only  to  add  that  I  expect  also 
a  speedy  and  effectual  Compliance  with  these 
Orders  and  that  you  will  make  me  immediate 
Report  of  what  shall  be  done  in  consequence  of 
them. 
I  am 
Sir 

Your  most  obed 

GEO.  CLINTON. 
Colo.  Ludington. 

Public  Service,  GEO.  CLINTON. 

To  Colo.  Henry  Ludington  Fredericksburgh. 
By  Express. 

Colonel  Ludington  was,  however,  more  successful 
in  securing  recruits  than  some  other  militia  com 
manders  in  that  region.  Colonel  Roswell  Hopkins, 
at  Amenia,  seems  to  have  met  with  many  troubles, 
which  ultimately  led  to  his  resignation  of  his  commis 
sion.  In  the  summer  of  1780  much  trouble  arose 
over  trafficking  in  certificates  of  exemption,  and  this 
correspondence  took  place : 

Amenia,  July  12th,  1780. 

Sir,  In  Obedience  to  Brigade  Orders  of  the 
30th  ult.  I  now  return  to  your  Excellency  the  num- 

C1713 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

ber  of  Classes  in  my  regiment  for  raising  the 
present  Levies  for  three  months;  the  number  is 
Sixty-two;  the  men  are  to  be  Delivered  the  14th 
Instant  at  Major  Cook's  &  the  15th  at  Capt. 
Roger  Sutherland's  to  such  Officer  as  your  Ex- 
cellencey  shall  appoint.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most 
obedient  Hum.  Serv't, 

ROSWELL  HOPKINS,  Colo. 
His  Excellency  Gov'r.  Clinton. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency,  We,  the  Sub 
scribers,  beg  leave  to  inform  your  Excellency 
that  Difficulties  have  arose  in  this  Regiment  re 
specting  Exemption  from  Militia  Drafts  Certifi 
cates  which  have  been  transferred  for  a  valuable 
Consideration  by  the  procurer  to  another  Person 
— that  is  whether  the  Purchaser  of  such  Certifi 
cate  is  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  Pass'd  the  25th 
of  March  1778,  for  Exempting  persons  from 
Drafts  are  as  much  exempted  from  Militia  Duty 
as  the  first  Procurers  would  be  in  case  he  had  not 
transfer'd  it.  There  being  several  such  Instances 
in  the  Regiments  and  different  Opinions  in  the 
Matter  which  is  likely  to  produce  uneasiness,  and 
we  being  Inf  orm'd  that  it  has  been  the  Practice  in 
other  Regiments  to  exempt  the  Purchasers  of 
such  Certificates.  There  is  James  Hildreth  <k 
Lemuel  Brush — under  this  predicament  the  men 
that  they  purchas'd  of  have  done  duty  in  this 
regiment  ever  since  they  transfer'd  their  Certifi 
cates  to  the  present  Holders.  As  their  appears 
to  be  no  fraud  or  collusion  respecting  the  said 
James  Hildreth  and  Brush,  we  pray  your  Excel- 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

lency's  advice  and  Direction  respecting  such 
purchas'd  Certificates  which  will  oblige  your  Ex 
cellency's  Most  Obedient  Humble  Servants 

ROSWELL  HOPKINS,  Colo. 
WILLIAM  BARKER,  Lt.  Colo. 
BRINTON  PAINE,  Major. 
EBEN.  HUSTED,  Maj'r. 

Amenia,  July  12  1780. 

His  Excellency  Gov'r  Clinton. 

thes  may  sartif  y  that  I  am  knoing  to  the  truth 
of  what  is  in  the  above,  as  I  then  Commanded  the 
Ridgment,  &  am  knoing  to  theas  2  men  mench'ed 
dus  now  due  duty  in  the  Ridgment. 

DAVID  SUTHERLAND. 

Poukeepsie  13th  July  1780. 
Sir,  I  am  this  Moment  favoured  with  your  two 
Letters  of  equal  Date.  His  Excellency  Genl. 
Washington  in  Consideration  of  the  Busy 
Season  of  the  year  &  other  Reasons  has  pro 
longed  the  Day  for  the  Levies  to  rendevous  at 
Fishkill  till  25th  Instant.  This  I  notified  Brig'r 
Genl.  Swartwoudt  of  by  after  Orders  which  I 
concluded  he  had  issued  to  his  Brigade.  I  will 
send  an  Officer  to  receive  &  take  Charge  of  your 
men  in  Season  to  march  them  to  the  Place  of 
Rendevous.  This  Delay  I  flatter  myself  will  be 
agreable  as  they  may  be  employed  in  gathering 
in  the  Harvests  &  it  will  afford  them  Time  fully 
to  prepare  &  provide  themselves  for  the  Cam 
paign  which  is  the  more  necessary  as  they  are  not 
to  be  relieved. 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

I  wish  it  was  in  my  Power  to  relieve  Mr.  Brush  & 
Hildridge  as  I  believe  they  meant  to  act  honestly 
&  uprightly;  but  it  is  not  as  they  have  not  pro 
ceeded  agreeable  to  Law  and  none  but  such  are 
exempted— neither  am  I  vested  with  any  Dis 
cretionary  Power  of  determining  in  such  Cases. 
I  have  explained  myself  more  fully  to  Mr.  Brush 
&  am,  Sir,  your  &c. 

(G.  C.) 
(to  Colonel  Hopkins) 

A  little  later  Colonel  Hopkins  had  a  lively  ex 
perience  with  a  press-master  from  Connecticut, 
which  he  reported  to  the  governor — his  letter  being 
of  interest  for  the  picture  which  it  gives  of  the  times 
and  customs  in  which  Colonel  Ludington  was  a  par 
ticipant  : 

Amenia  Aug't  19th  1780. 
May  it  please  your  Excellency,  I  beg  leave  to 
trouble  your  Excellency  with  a  Remonstrance 
Concerning  a  certain  Press-master,  one  George 
Tremble,  who  is  a  transient  person  that  lives  in 
Connecticut,  who  came  to  me  on  the  8th  Instant 
and  told  me  he  wanted  my  team  to  carry  forrage 
to  the  Fishkills.  I  told  him  my  Circumstances 
was  such  that  I  could  not  let  them  go,  for  it 
would  Ruin  me  for  my  wheat,  about  130  bushels, 
all  I  had  was  in  the  field  and  it  would  spoil.  My 
oats,  200  or  300  busshels  all  lay  in  the  Swarth, 
and  would  be  lost,  for  I  had  no  help  but  one  Son, 
and  could  not  hire  any  man ;  my  flax  a  fine  Crop 
was  all  in  the  field  and  some  hay  in  the  meadow, 
and  my  grass  lodged  and  rotting,  but  he  said  he 

[1743 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

cared  not  for  that,  but  I  should  go  myself  with 
my  team  the  next  day.  I  told  him  if  I  could 
secure  my  grain  I  would  send  my  son  and  team 
the  next  week,  but  he  said  I  should  go  the  next 
day.  I  told  him  I  would  not;  he  showed  me  a 
Coppy  of  a  press  warrent  from  your  Excellency 
to  Colo.  Hay  with  a  line  from  him  on  the  back 
authorizing  said  Tremble  to  impress  teams  & 
drivers  in  this  state. 

I  told  him  that  was  no  legal  warrent  to  him; 
he  rode  off  saying  he  would  get  a  warrent  for  me, 
&  then  told  all  about  he  had  got  a  warrent  for 
me;  but  on  the  14th  he  came  again  with  a  Ser 
geant  &  8  men  &  entered  my  field,  Siezed  my  son 
&  confined  him  under  guard,  drove  out  my  fatten 
oxen  that  I  was  fattening  for  the  army,  took  my 
horses  &  forced  my  son  to  drive  them  with  a  lode 
of  my  own  oats  to  the  Fishkills,  altho  I  consented 
if  they  must  go  they  might  carry  my  oats,  he  told 
me  I  was  a  disaffected  Person,  had  done  nothing 
to  support  the  cause,  held  bad  Princeples,  was  a 
dam'd  Lyer  and  a  dam'd  Rascal. 

I  have  fined  him  for  cursing ;  sued  him  for  tres 
pass  &  issued  a  warrant  against  him  in  order  to 
bind  him  to  his  good  behaviour  &  recorded  a  riot 
against  him. 

I  think  its  a  pity  that  there  is  not  a  man  in  this 
Precinct  County  or  state  that  can  be  trusted  with 
a  press  warrant,  but  such  an  outlandish  Irish, 
malicious,  abusive  fellow  must  be  sent  into  this 
Precinct  to  press  all  the  whiggs  teams,  &  none  in 
Charlotte,  which  is  near  3  times  as  big,  and  half 
tories,  for  I  cant  learn  of  one  being  pressed  there ; 
after  all  the  malicious  fellow  wrote  a  letter  to 
Colo.  Hay  sent  by  the  Soldiers  that  my  team 

C1753 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Capt.  Shepherd's  &  Mr.  IngersolFs  teams  were 
disaffected  teams,  and  requested  they  might  be 
kept  in  Service  a  month ;  he  abused  others  besides 
me.  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  Hum'e  Serv't 

ROSWELL  HOPKINS. 

P.  S.  One  Stack  of  my  wheat  is  spoiled  being 
wet  thro  &  grown  &  I  shall  loose  about  six  tons 
of  hay.  R.  H. 

His  Excellency  Governour  Clinton. 

At  the  beginning  of  May,  1781,  however,  Colonel 
Hopkins  gave  up  the  struggle  to  maintain  his  quota 
of  men  in  the  field,  and  insisted  upon  resigning  his 
commission : 

Amenia,  May  1st  1781. 

Sir,  I  wrote  to  your  Excellency  about  a  fort 
night  ago  to  acquaint  you  that  the  Classes  of  my 
Regiment  were  to  Deliver  their  men  yesterday, 
and  requested  an  officer  might  be  sent  to  recive 
them  agreeable  to  general  orders,  but  no  man  or 
orders  came.  I  was  greatly  non-plushed  &  knew 
not  what  to  do,  but  have  mustered  the  men  and 
ordered  them  to  meet  at  Peleg  Tabors  near  Mr. 
David  Johnston,  on  Saturday  this  week  at  10 
O'clock,  to  march  immediately  off,  when  and 
where  I  hope  your  Excellency  will  give  some  one 
orders  to  take  care  of  them.  I  fear  they  will  not 
appear  at  that  time  as  no  one  has  the  care  of 
them.  I  fear  they  will  desert,  they  have  got  their 
bounties. 

Sir,  I  must  still  insist  on  resigning  my  Mili 
tary  commission  as  I  am  wore  out  with  the 

C176] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

trouble  &  expence  of  it.  I  think  it  unaccountable 
that  the  vacancies  in  my  Regt.  are  not  filled  up, 
when  I  have  made  so  many  returns  and  requests, 
and  have  had  no  adjutant  for  near  2  years  and 
orders  to  send  to  my  Capts.  very  offen  indeed. 
Sir,  I  desire  if  any  officers  are  appointed  this  way 
to  go  with  these  Levies,  I  might  be  informed  by 
the  bearer  who  they  be ;  pray  excuse  the  want  of 
Paper  for  I  have  wrote  up  4  quire  in  a  short  time 
lately  in  orders  &c.  all  gratis,  and  know  not  where 
I  can  get  more.  I  have  collected  some  money 
from  the  delinquent  classes  for  during  the  war. 
I  am,  Sir,  your  most  Obed't  Serv't 

ROSWELL  HOPKINS,  Colo. 
His  Excellency  Gover'r  Clinton. 

Colonel  Ludington  also  appears  to  have  had  many 
troubles  and  vexations  at  this  time,  though  his  "stay 
ing  qualities"  were  superior  to  those  of  Colonel  Hop 
kins.  He  wrote  to  the  governor  on  the  very  day  on 
which  Colonel  Hopkins  resigned,  as  follows : 

Fredericks  Burgh,  May  1st  1781. 

Honoured  Sir,  I  was  yesterday  a  Coming  to 
wait  on  your  Excellency,  but  hearing  of  my  little 
Son  (who  is  at  School  at  Danbury)  lying  very 
dangerous  with  the  plurisy,  was  obliged  to  turn 
my  Course  that  way,  for  which  Reason  obliges 
me  to  commit  my  Errand  in  writing.  Your  Ex 
cellency  no  dought  has  been  inform'd  of  our 
troubles  of  late  in  Regard  of  a  large  party  of 
Robbers  being  for  four  weeks  past  near  me  in  the 

urn] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

mountains,  which  has  occasioned  me  in  some 
measure  of  being  behind  hand  in  turning  out  my 
men  for  the  nine  months  Service,  for  the  chief 
part  of  my  Regiment  has  been  out  ever  since  the 
Robbers  came  among  us,  And,  Sir,  were  you  to 
be  fully  acquainted  with  the  Difficulty  I  now 
labour  under  you  would  think  is  impossible  for 
me  to  do  it,  as  I  have  but  one  field  officer,  which  is 
Major  Robinson  who  lives  so  near  the  lines  that 
he  has  enough  to  take  care  of  himself,  The  Cir 
cumstances  of  my  wife  and  family  renders  it  in 
convenient  for  me  to  move  immediately  if  I  intend 
to  save  my  life,  or  anything  for  my  family's  sup 
port.  My  Captains  seeing  the  Distresses  that  is 
daily  comeing  upon  themselves  by  Reason  of 
haveing  their  Sergents  sued  and  torn  to  pieces 
for  what  Necessity  required  them  to  do  among 
the  tories,  while  we  was  under  the  authority  of 
Committees,  and  many  of  their  best  men  are  beat 
and  robbed  by  persons  who  say  they  are  Refugees 
from  below.  It  is  only  for  them  to  call  a  man  a 
tory,  be  him  ever  so  good  a  man,  himself,  wife 
and  Children  get  beat  in  such  a  manner  that  he  's 
obliged  to  turn  out  his  Substance  to  save  their 
lives.  And  at  best  the  Regiment  are  verry  poor 
when  compared  with  other  Regiments  and  are 
call'd  on  to  raise  an  eaquil  number  with  the  others, 
when  I  can  affirm  that  ten  farmers  in  Coll. 
BrinckerhofFs  Regiment  is  able  to  purchase  the 
whole  of  mine.  In  this  uneaquil  way,  I  have  been 
obliged  to  turn  out  my  men  untill  they  are  so 
much  impoverished  that  they  almost  dispair. 

It  seems  the  power  of  Earth  and  Hell  was  let 
loose  against  me  and  my  Regiment,    Even  one 
of  the  most  abandant  Ruffins  is  indulged  to  hold 
D78] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

me  up  to  public  view  for  Cowardice,  for  challeng 
ing  him  to  fight  a  Duel.  It  is  what  I  never 
thought  on,  neither  did  he  think  I  did,  but  was  let 
loose  upon  me  by  the  Instigation  of  a  set  of  Ruf- 
fins  who  Conspired  together  to  take  my  life,  and 
I  knowing  this  Kees  to  be  a  transient  person  who 
had  neither  Connection,  Credit,  Money  or 
friends,  nor  no  place  of  Residence  here,  that  it 
was  out  of  my  power  to  get  Recompence  from 
such  a  fellow  as  he,  unless  it  was  by  giveing  him 
a  floging,  and  that  he  had  put  out  of  my  power 
by  Secreting  himself.  This  being  my  Situation 
shall  expect  from  your  Excellency  some  Direc 
tions  and  advice  by  a  line  what  will  be  best  for  me 
to  doe.  I  something  expect  that  General  Swart- 
wout  will  wait  on  you  this  day,  who  will  be  able 
to  state  some  of  the  Difficulties  I  have  mentioned 
and  whether  it  will  not  be  best  to  anex  my  Regi 
ment  to  some  other  Regiment,  or  give  me  some 
field  officers,  who  in  time  of  turning  out  my  men 
will  be  better  able  and  more  willing  to  assist  me. 
Am,  Sir,  with  due  Regard  your  Excellency's 
Most  Obed't  and  verry  Hum'e  Serv't 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 
His  Excelency  George  Clinton,  Esqr. 

The  governor  regarded  Colonel  Ludington's  re 
quest  for  more  officers  as  reasonable,  and  promptly 
complied  with  it  as  follows : 

Sir,  In  Answer  to  yours  of  the  1st  Instant  I 
have  to  inform  you  that  Lieuts.  Johnson,  Duel  & 
Becker  of  your  Regt.  are  appointed  Officers  in 

D793 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

the  Levies.  These  will  have  orders  to  receive  & 
march  your  Quota  to  the  Place  of  Rendevouz. 
The  last  I  received  from  you  I  answered  a  Day 
or  two  after  it  came  to  Hand.  My  Letter  was 
forwarded  by  Judge  Paine.  If  you  apply  to  the 
Secry.  I  imagine  you  will  find  that  the  appoint 
ments  for  your  Regt.  agreable  to  your  Return 
have  long  since  been  perfected.  Agreable  to  a 
Notification  in  the  public  News  Papers  the  Coun 
cil  mett  at  this  Place  on  the  26th  Instant.  It 
would  have  been  proper  to  have  applied  to  them  at 
that  Time  either  to  have  had  the  vacancies  in  your 
Regt.  filled  up  or  to  have  made  your  Resignation 
as  they  only  have  the  Power  of  doing  the  former 
or  of  accepting  of  the  latter.  I  am  &c. 

(G.  C.) 

There  may  be  some  other  gentlemen  residing 
within  your  Regt.  appointed  officers  for  the 
Levies  but  of  this  I  cant  be  certain  as  I  am 
neither  acquainted  with  its  Limits  or  their  Places 
of  Residence.  ( To  Colonel  Ludinton. ) 

A  fortnight  later  new  orders  as  to  the  distribution 
of  levies  were  issued.  Colonel  Ludington  was  to  be 
retained  on  duty  in  Westchester  County,  where  he 
was  much  needed.  But  a  sharp  controversy  arose 
over  his  alleged  dilatoriness  in  raising  his  quota  of 
men.  These  letters  indicate  the  general  trend  of 
affairs  at  that  time : 

Fishkeels  13th  May  1781. 

D'r  Governor,  I  have  just  Returnd  from  three 
days  fortague  receving  Colo.  Vanderburgh  Le 
vies. 

[180] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

I  beg  to  no  what  part  of  Ulster  County  I  shall 
derect  that  part  of  the  Levis  to  purposed  for  that 
Quarter.  I  have  proposed  Capt.  Livingston  for 
that  Command  &  beg  he  may  be  as  ney  my  post  as 
posable.  I  am  your  Excel'cy  most  Obt.  HbL 
Serv't  ^ 

E.  V.  BUNSCHOTEN. 

His  Ex'ly  G.  Clinton. 

N.  B.    I  expose  my  poverty  as  to  paper. 


May  13th  1781. 

S'r,  I  have  rec'd  your  Letter  by  Capt.  Liv 
ingston.  The  Detachm't  intended  for  the  fron 
tiers  of  Ulster  are  to  proceed  to  Kingston.  Colo. 
Graham's  Regt.  will  furnish  50  so  that  no  more 
are  to  be  sent  than  with  them  will  make  up  100. 
I  am  anxious  that  those  for  Albany  be  dispatched 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  it  is  my  wish  that  a  Part 
of  those  already  on  the  ground  be  sent  there  as 
their  appearance  on  the  Frontier  will  give  Con 
fidence  to  the  Inhabitants.  Field's  &  Ludington's 
Levies  are  intended  for  West  Chester.  Call  in  all 
the  absent  Officers  immediately.  Capts.  Marshall 
&  Whelp  who  belong  to  Willet's  Regt.  ought  ta 
join  &  take  Charge  of  the  Detachm't  intended  for 

Albany'  (G.  C.) 

(Major  Van  Bunschoten.) 


Poughkeepsie,  May  13th  1781. 

Sir,    I  am  informed  by  Letter  from  Colo.  Lud- 
denton  that  he  has  not  yet  done  any  Thing  to- 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

wards  raising  the  Levies  from  his  Regt.,  that  they 
are  not  even  formed  into  Classes.  I  must,  there 
fore,  insist  that  you  immediately  take  the  meas 
ures  directed  by  Law  for  drawing  forth  his  Pro 
portion  of  men,  together  with  the  Deficiencies 
from  all  the  other  Regiments,  a  Return  of  which 
will  be  furnished  you  by  Major  Buntschoten  on 
your  application.  The  Service  will  by  no  means 
admit  of  Delay  in  this  Business.  I,  therefore, 
expect  your  utmost  exertions.  I  am  &c. 

GEO.  CLINTON. 
Brig'r.  Genl.  Swartwout. 

Fishkill  May  16th  1781. 

D'r  Sir,  Agreable  to  your  Exlancey's  order,  I 
wated  on  Colo.  Luddenton  to  Receive  the  Levies 
from  his  Ridgment;  he  promisd  to  have  them 
Ready  the  next  week,  but  hearing  he  made  no 
stur,  I  sent  Lt.  Dyckman  to  know  when  I  might 
expect  them,  but  he  could  not  see  him.  I  then 
went  myself  several  times  before  I  could  see  him ; 
he  at  length  set  a  day  to  Receive  them  but 
neighther  he  nor  his  men  mad  ther  appearance.  I 
cald  on  him  the  nex  day  to  know  the  Reason,  but 
he  was  out  of  the  way.  I  then  concluded  to  report 
to  him  but  by  chance  I  met  him  on  the  Road ;  he 
then  promised  to  turn  them  out  the  twenty  first 
of  the  month.  Should  I  bee  disapointed  again,  I 
shall  wait  on  your  exlancey  with  the  perticulars 
and  remain,  with  the  greatest  esteem,  your  ex- 
lancey's  most  obediant  and  most  umble  serv't 

D'NL  WILLIAMS. 
His  exlancey  Governor  Clinton. 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

Colonel  Ludington  appears  to  have  fulfilled  his 
word  and  to  have  completed  his  quota  in  a  satis 
factory  manner,  for  there  is  no  indication  of  any 
further  complaints,  and  he  is  known  to  have  con 
tinued  in  the  service  in  the  best  of  standing.  His 
next  correspondence  with  Governor  Clinton  had  to 
do  with  the  petitions  of  two  deserters  for  clemency, 
and  with  the  case  of  a  woman  who  had  become  an 
outlaw.  Colonel  Ludington's  letter  and  the  petition, 
and  the  governor's  reply,  were  as  follows : 

Fredericksburgh,  September  21d,  1781. 

Honored  Sir:  Being  acquainted  with  the  con 
tents  of  the  petition  sent  you  enclosed  from  Sem'r 
Arnold  and  Cowin  should  esteam  it  as  a  favour 
Dun  unto  them  and  my  Self  if  it  should  have  its 
Desired  efect.  But  be  that  as  it  may  an  answer 
from  His  Excelenz  Consearning  the  Same  will 
Mutch  oblige  your  very  Humble  Servant 

To  his  Excellency  George  Clinton,  Esqr.  Gov 
ernor. 

Petition  of  Daniel  Cowing  and  Seymour  Arnold. 

To  his  Excellency  George  Clinton  Esquire 
Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York : 

The  Humble  Petition  of  Daniel  Cowing  & 
Seymour  Arnold. 

Humbly  Sheweth — That  your  Petitioners 
were  by  undue  influence  and  evil  Example  un- 

C188] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

happily  led  to  desert  their  Station  in  the  levies 
under  Captain  Williams  on  the  Lines  in  the 
county  of  Westchester  and  though  your  Peti 
tioners  upon  the  first  reflection  were  sensible  of 
the  enormity  of  their  Crime  &  inclined  to  return 
to  their  Duty,  the  dread  of  Corporal  punishment 
prevented  them  till  pardon  could  be  procured 
from  their  officers;  that  many  applications  for 
that  purpose  have  been  made  by  persons  em 
ployed  by  your  Petitr.  without  Effect,  that  your 
Petitr.  are  heartily  sorry  for,  and  ashamed  of 
their  conduct,  are  fully  determined  and  solemnly 
promise  never  to  be  guilty  of  the  same  Crime 
again  under  any  Circumstances  or  treatment 
whatsoever,  that  your  Petrs.  hope  some  indul 
gence  from  their  known  attachment  to  the  Pub 
lic  cause  as  your  petrs.  have  been  in  the  service  a 
great  part  of  the  time  since  the  war  Commenced 
and  are  now  willing  to  make  every  amend  in 
their  power  to  the  state  by  serving  longer  than 
the  time  limited  or  Otherways  as  your  Excel 
lency  or  their  officers  may  appoint,  if  by  your 
Excellency's  interposing  in  their  favour  your 
petrs.  may  be  exempted  from  Corporal  punish 
ment  for  this  offence  and  at  Liberty  to  return  to 
their  duty  immediately  this  your  Petitrs.  im 
plore  &  hope  from  your  Excellencys  known 
Clemency. 

And  your  Petrs.  as  in  duty  bound  will  ever  Pray. 


Poughkeepsie,  Septr,  21st  1781. 

Sir,  I  have  rec'd  your  letter  of  this  Date  with 
the  Petition  of  the  Deserters  from  Capt.  Wil- 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

Hams'  Company  &  the  request  of  the  Overseers 
of  Poor  relative  to  Mrs.  Webb. 

The  levies  you  may  remember  are  by  the  Law 
put  under  the  Command  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief  &  made  subject  to  the  Continental  Articles 
of  War.  Genl.  Heath  has  now  the  command  of 
the  Department  &  the  application  in  behalf  of  the 
Petitioners  should  be  to  him.  I  cannot  with 
Propriety  interfere  in  the  matter.  But  at  any 
Rate  they  ought  first  to  deliver  themselves  up  & 
offer  to  return  to  their  duty  before  they  can  ex 
pect  a  remission  of  the  Punishment  they  have  in 
curred. 

With  respect  to  Mrs.  Webb— the  law  makes  it 
the  duty  of  the  Justices  to  warn  her  out  of  the 
State  and  she  is  to  depart  within  twenty  Days 
after  Notice  given  her  accordingly,  or  be  out  of 
the  protection  of  the  law,  I  am, 

(G.  C.) 
Colo.  Luddinton  Fredericksburgh. 


Later  in  the  war,  much  difficulty  was  again  ex 
perienced  in  raising  the  desired  levies : 


Fredricksburgh,  aprill  14th,  1782. 

Honoured  Sir,  it  will  be  neadles  for  me  to 
State  to  your  Excelency  the  Difficulties  and 
Disadvantiges  my  Distresd  Regment  Labours 
under  as  in  Regard  of  Raising  their  quota  of  men, 

[185] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

for  Sure  I  am  that  if  it  was  Consistant  his  Ex- 
celency  would  give  us  every  Asistance  in  his  power. 
This  one  Request  I  shall  atempt  to  make  that  we 
should  Have  an  offisar  or  two  apointed  in  the 
Regiment.  If  that  should  Be  the  case  I  think  it 
would  Have  a  tendancy  to  aleviate  us  in  the  pain 
of  Raising  them  and  prevent  Desartions  which 
hath  Been  verry  preverlent  2  or  3  of  the  Last 
Campains.  The  men  I  Raised  the  Last  year  were 
as  good  men  as  I  would  Evr  wish  to  Command, 
were  put  under  Capt.  Williams  And  Desarted 
all  to  a  man.  As  it  is  so  Burthensom  to  Rase  the 
Money  to  pay  their  Bounties  pray  Let  us  in- 
deavour  they  shall  Do  the  Service  intended.  It  is 
my  opinion  that  Lt.  Charles  Stewart  that  was 
with  Colo.  Wesenfell  Last  year  will  answer  well 
for  a  capt.  and  his  son  for  a  2  L'dtant. 

am  Sir  His  Excelencys 

verry  Humble  Servant 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 
Governor  Clinton. 


A  few  days  later  he  wrote  again: 

Fredricksburgh  Aprill  23,  1782. 

Honoured  Sir, 

I  must  Beg  Leave  to  trouble  his  Excelency 
this  once  more  with  my  Request  that  Lt 
Charles  Stuart  shall  Be  indulged  with  the  Same 

C186] 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

offise  he  held  last  year  under  Colo.  Wiesenfelt.  I 
should  not  so  Strenuously  insist  upon  it  only  that 
I  am  Sensable  it  will  have  a  tendancy  to  induce 
the  young  men  of  his  aquantance  to  inlist  and 
that  for  a  mutch  les  sum  than  if  they  were  to  go 
with  Strangers.  Sir  for  the  Reasons  above  Re- 
sited  I  shall  hope  his  Excelency  will  grant  this 
my  Request  as  well  as  others.  I  am  Sir  his  Excel- 
encys 

most  obedient  and  Humble  Servant 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 

To  George  Clinton  Esqr. 
Governor. 


P.  S.    Sir  a  line  By  way  of  answer  if  it  should  be 
agreable. 


Thus  Colonel  Ludington  served  through  the  war 
to  its  close,  in  his  various  capacities,  and  at  the  end 
was  much  concerned  with  securing  settlements  of  the 
pay  due  to  himself  and  his  troops.  His  own  rate  of 
pay  is  indicated  in  several  entries  on  the  pay-rolls. 
Thus  we  find— 

Abstract  of  Pay  &  Rations  due  Col.  Henry 
Luddington's  Regt.  of  Dutchess  County  Militia 
in  the  Service  of  the  United  States  at  different 
Periods  between  March  1779  &  November  1780. 

C187] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 


Names.  Rank    Commencing  Ending  , 

Months   days 


1779         1780 
Henry  Luddington    Colonel    March     Novemr.    1 


Dollars  pr  _          ?118^  Amount  of  Amount  of  Pay 

Month  Rations     Price  Rations.  and  Rations. 

75  210       10d        8:15:-.  43:15:-. 


Apparently  it  was  long  after  the  war  before  all 
these  matters  were  fully  adjusted,  as  the  date  of  the 
following  affidavit  shows : 

I  Henry  Ludinton  do  solemnly  and  sincerely 
swear  that  the  List  hereunto  annexed  contains 
an  Account  of  all  Certificates  that  remained  in 
my  Hands  of  those  that  were  issued  by  the  Treas 
urer  and  delivered  to  me  for  Paying  my  Regi 
ment  ;  That  the  remainder  were  to  the  best  of  my 
knowledge  and  belief  delivered  to  the  Persons 
who  performed  the  services  or  their  legal  repre 
sentatives  and  that  the  names  subscribed  to  the 
vouchers  produced  were  bona  fide  subscribed  by 

HENRY  LUDENTON. 

Sworn  before  me  this  13th  Day 
of  Septr.  1792. 

Gerard  Bancker  Treasr. 


Voucher  No.  306,  of  "The  United  States  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  Dr.  for  payments  on  Certifi 
cates  for  Military  Services  performed  in  the  late 
War,"  presumably  covering  all  payment  made  to 

[188] 


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BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

Colonel  Ludington  for  federal  services,  shows  a  total 
of  <£l330:19s:2d. 

Colonel  Ludington  appears  to  have  been  the  pur 
chaser,  for  cash,  of  some  of  the  lands  apportioned  to 
soldiers  as  bounties  for  their  services.  Thus  in  the 
"Manuscripts  of  the  Colony  and  State  of  New  York 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,"  on  file  in  the  controller's 
office  at  Albany,  Mr.  Patrick  has  found  this  entry: 

We  the  subscribers  members  of  a  class  in 
Capt.  William  Pierce's  Company  and  Colo.  John 
Field's  Regiment  who  have  Procured  a  man  to 
wit  Christian  Null  to  serve  in  the  Levies  of  this 
State  Until  the  First  Day  of  January  Next  who 
has  been  Delivered  and  a  Certificut  Taken  for 
Such  Delivery  According  to  Law  whereby  the 
said  Class  Is  Entitled  to  two  hundred  acres  of 
Unappropriated  Land  we  do  therefore  in  Con 
sideration  of  the  sum  of  five  Pounds  to  us  in 
hand  paid  By  Henry  Ludenton  Esqr  the  Receipt 
Whereof  we  do  acknowledge  and  Do  grant  and 
transfer  unto  the  said  Henry  Ludenton  Esqr.  his 
heirs  and  assigns  the  Whole  Right  of  the  said 
two  hundred  acres  of  Land  which  said  Class  is 
Entitled  To  In  persuance  of  a  Law  of  this  State 
Entitled  an  act  for  Raising  Troops  to  Complete 
the  Line  of  this  State  In  the  service  of  the  United 
States  And  the  two  Regiments  to  Be  Raised  on 
Bounties  of  Unappropriated  Lands  and  for  the 
Further  Defence  of  the  frontiers  of  this  State 
Passed  the  25th  of  March  1782  To  have  and  to 
hold  the  sd  two  hundred  Acres  of  Land  Unto  the 
sd  Henry  Ludinton  His  heirs  and  assigns  to  his 

[189] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

and  their  proper  use  and  Benefit  and  behoof  for 
ever  as  witness  our  hands  and  seals  this  the  3d  of 
March  1783. 

Henry  Ludinton 

Assignee  and  Assignor 

EDMUND  FERRIS 
ASA  SABIN 
JOHN  CASWELL. 
JOHN  PEASLEE 
RICHD  FURNISS 
JAMES  FERRIS 
STEPHEN  STEVENSON 
WARREN  FERRIS. 

Seald  and  Delivered 
in  presence  of 

Jathro  Sherman 
James  Ferriss 

This  document  is  endorsed  as  follows: 

Be  it  remembered  that  I  Henry  Ludinton  da 
Assign  over  this  within  Conveyance  unto  Ben 
jamin  Conklin  and  to  his  Heirs  and  Assigns  to- 
Reserve  and  in  joy  the  Land  therein  mentioned. 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 
Dated  November  1st  1783 
in  presence  of  Eleazar  weed. 

With  such  transactions  the  military  service  of  Col 
onel  Ludington  was  concluded,  and  the  remainder 
of  his  busy  life  was  reserved  for  civil  duties  and  hist 
private  affairs. 

D90  ] 


CHAPTER  VII 

AFTER  THE  WAR 

WITH  the  return  of  peace  in  the  triumph  of  the 
cause  for  which  he  had  battled,  Colonel  Lud- 
ington  by  no  means  lapsed  into  inactivity  or  obscur 
ity,  but  continued  to  serve  the  State  in  various  ways 
with  the  same  earnestness  which  he  had  shown  in  war. 
For  some  time  he  was  again  a  deputy  sheriff  of 
Dutchess  County,  and  in  the  performance  of  his  duties 
on  one  occasion  was  severely  stabbed  by  a  desperado 
named  Brown,  whom  he  was  arresting.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  his  long  service 
being  ample  evidence  of  the  confidence  which  his  fel 
low  citizens  reposed  in  his  probity  and  of  the  esteem 
in  which  they  held  his  intelligence.  He  had  not  a 
legal  education.  Indeed,  as  has  already  been  ob 
served  and  as  the  composition  of  his  letters  clearly 
shows,  his  schooling  in  even  the  ordinary  branches 
was  slight.  His  rulings  as  justice  of  the  peace  were 
therefore  based  more  upon  common  sense  and  prac 
tical,  elementary  justice  than  upon  technical  famil 
iarity  with  statute  law  or  with  the  prescribed  forms  of 
judicial  procedure.  His  shrewd  sense  and  his  just 
disposition,  however,  guided  him  so  well  that  his  ad 
ministration  of  the  office  was  satisfactory  to  those 

D91] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

who  had  occasion  to  use  his  court,  and  it  was  a  rare 
thing  for  an  appeal  to  be  taken  against  any  of  his 
decisions,  and  still  more  rare  for  a  higher  court  to  re 
verse  his  judgment.  After  many  years  of  satisfac 
tory  service,  one  of  his  friends  persuaded  him  that  he 
should  pay  more  attention  to  the  technical  conven 
tionalities  of  judicial  procedure,  and  to  that  end  pro 
vided  him  with  a  compendium  of  legal  practice.  This 
treatise,  admirably  comprehensive  yet  concise,  cover 
ing  a  number  of  foolscap  pages  of  manuscript,  is 
among  Colonel  Ludington's  papers  now  in  the  pos 
session  of  his  grandson,  Charles  H.  Ludington.  Col 
onel  Ludington  accepted  the  advice  with  some  mis 
givings,  but  studied  the  compendium,  and  when  the 
next  case  came  before  him  he  conducted  court  in  a 
more  technically  correct  way  than  before.  On  this 
occasion  an  appeal  was  made  by  the  defeated  party 
to  a  higher  court,  and  that  court  reversed  Colonel 
Ludington's  judgment  and  ordered  a  new  trial. 
That  was  something  which  had  never  before  hap 
pened,  and  was  naturally  a  cause  of  chagrin  to  him. 
He  indignantly  declared  that  it  was  all  because  of 
the  new-fangled  methods  of  procedure  which  his 
friend  had  persuaded  him  to  adopt,  and  he  thereafter 
persisted  in  conducting  his  court  in  the  old-fashioned 
way. 

Among  the  records  of  the  Dutchess  County  jus 
tices'  courts,  or  courts  of  special  sessions,  are  many 
entries  of  cases  tried  before  him.  In  October,  1803, 
Henry  Ludington,  Cyrus  Benjamin  and  Stephen 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

Hayt  occupied  the  bench  when  "Ruamy  Shaw  was 
brought  before  the  court  charged  with  feloniously 
stealing,  taking  and  carrying  away  from  the  house  of 
Isaac  Russell  a  pair  of  shoes  and  a  Tea  Kettle 
Holder,  whereupon  the  said  Court  after  hearing  wit 
nesses  for  and  against  the  prisoner  are  of  the  opinion 
that  the  said  Ruamy  Shaw  is  guilty,  .  .  that  she 
therefore  pay  a  fine  of  five  dollars  and  stand  commit 
ted  until  judgement  be  complied  with."  The  fine 
was  promptly  paid,  in  the  form  of  a  due  bill  by  Wil 
liam  Shaw.  In  July,  1806,  before  the  same  justices, 
"Else  Lake,  Spinster,  was  convicted  .  .  for  feloni 
ously  stealing  taking  &  carrying  away  one  Plad 
Chinz  gown  out  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Frances 
Mead  .  .  .  and  that  the  said  court  lay  a  fine  of  $5, 
and  that  she  stand  committed  until  the  same  is  paid. 
She  refusing  to  pay  the  same,  Metimas  (mittimus) 
wrought  and  delivered  to  John  Griffen  const.."  That 
plaid  chintz  gown  was  a  source  of  much  trouble,  for 
on  that  same  day  before  the  same  court,  "Phebe 
Davis,  wife  of  Solomon  Davis,  was  .  .  .  convicted 
for  feloniously  stealing  one  Plad  Chinz  gown  to  the 
value  of  $3.50  cents,  the  property  of  Frances  Mead, 
and  that  the  said  Court  lay  a  fine  on  the  said  Phebe 
of  $6  and  that  she  stand  committed  until  the  same  is 
paid.  She  refusing  to  pay  the  same,  Metimas 
wrought  and  delivered  to  John  Griffen  const." 

It  will  be  of  some  quaint,  antiquarian  interest  to 
recall  the  phraseology  of  the  commissions  which  were 
in  those  days  issued  to  justices  of  the  peace.  One 

[193] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

of  those  issued  to  Henry  Ludington,  now  in  the 
MS.  collection  of  Mr.  Patrick,  runs  as  follows, 
being  practically  identical,  mutatis  mutandis,  with 
others  issued  to  him  by  later  governors. 

THE  PEOPLE  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
by  the  Grace  of  GOD,  Free  and  Independent. 

To  David  Brooks,  .  .  .  Henry  Ludington, 
.  .  .  and  Ahab  Arnold,  in  our  County  of  Dutch- 
ess,  Esquires,  Greeting: 

Know  Ye,  that  We  have  appointed  and  as 
signed;  and  by  these  Presents,  do  appoint  and 
assign,  you  and  every  of  you,  jointly  and  sever 
ally,  Justices  to  keep  Our  Peace,  in  our  County 
of  Dutchess,  and  to  keep,  and  cause  to  be  kept,  all 
Laws  and  Ordinances,  made  or  to  be  made,  for 
the  good  of  the  Peace,  and  for  the  Conservation 
of  the  same,  and  for  the  quiet  Rule  and  Govern 
ment  of  the  Citizens  and  Inhabitants  of  our  said 
State,  in  all  and  every  the  Articles  thereof,  in  our 
said  County,  as  well  within  Liberties,  as  without 
according  to  the  Force,  Form  and  Effect  of  the 
same  Laws  and  Ordinances;  and  to  chastise  and 
punish  all  Persons  offending  against  the  Form  of 
those  Laws  and  Ordinances,  or  any  of  them,  in 
the  County  aforesaid,  in  such  Manner,  as,  accord 
ing  to  the  Form  of  those  Laws  and  Ordinances, 
shall  be  fit  to  be  done ;  and  to  cause  to  come  before 
you,  or  any  or  either  of  you,  all  those  Persons 
who  shall  break  the  Peace,  or  have  used,  or  shall 
use  Threats,  to  any  one  or  more  of  the  Citizens  or 
Inhabitants  of  our  said  State,  concerning  their 
Bodies,  or  the  firing  of  their  Houses,  or  Barns,  to 

C1941 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

find  sufficient  Security  for  the  Peace,  or  their 
good  Behaviour  towards  the  People  and  Inhabi 
tants  of  our  said  State ;  and  if  they  refuse  to  find 
such  Security,  then  them  in  Prison,  until  they  shall 
find  such  Security,  to  cause  to  be  safely  kept :  And 
further,  We  have  also  appointed  and  assigned 
you  the  said  Justices,  or  any  three  or  more  of  you, 
to  enquire,  by  the  Oath  of  good  and  lawful  Men, 
of  our  County  aforesaid,  by  whom  the  Truth 
may  be  the  better  known,  of  all,  and  all  manner 
of  Larcenies,  Thefts,  Trespasses,  Forestallings, 
Regratings,  Engrossings  and  Extortions  whatso 
ever,  and  of  all  and  singular  other  Crimes  and 
Offences,  of  which  Justices  of  the  Peace  may  or 
ought  lawfully  to  enquire,  by  whomsoever,  and 
after  what  Manner  soever,  in  the  County  afore 
said,  done  or  perpetrated,  or  which  shall  happen 
to  be  there  done  or  attempted:  And  also,  of  all 
those  who  in  the  said  County  have  gone  or  rode, 
or  hereafter  shall  presume  to  go  or  ride,  in  Com 
panies  with  armed  Force,  against  the  Peace,  to 
the  Disturbance  of  the  Citizens  and  Inhabitants 
of  our  said  State :  And  also,  of  all  those  who  have 
there  lain  in  Wait,  or  hereafter  shall  presume  to 
lie  in  Wait,  to  maim,  or  cut  and  kill,  any  Citizen 
or  Inhabitant  of  our  said  State:  And  also,  of  all 
Victuallers  and  Innholders,  and  all  and  singular 
other  Persons,  who  have  offended  or  attempted 
to  offend,  or  hereafter  shall  presume  or  attempt 
to  offend  in  the  said  County,  in  the  Abuse  of 
Weights  or  Measures,  or  in  the  Sale  of  Victuals, 
against  the  Form  of  the  Laws  and  Ordinances  of 
our  said  State,  or  any  of  them,  made  for  the  com 
mon  Good  of  our  said  State,  and  the  Citizens  and 
Inhabitants  thereof:  And  also  of  all  Sheriffs, 

C195] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Bailiffs,  Constables,  Gaolers  and  other  Officers 
whatsoever,  who,  in  the  Execution  of  their  Offices 
about  the  Premises,  or  any  of  them,  have  unduly 
demeaned  themselves,  or  hereafter  shall  presume 
to  behave  themselves  unduly,  or  have  been, 
or  hereafter  shall  happen  to  be  careless,  re 
miss  or  negligent,  in  the  County  aforesaid; 
and  of  all  and  singular  Articles  and  Circum 
stances,  and  all  other  Things  whatsoever,  that 
concern  the  Premises  or  any  of  them,  by  whom 
soever,  and  after  what  Manner  soever  in  the  said 
County,  done  or  perpetrated,  or  which  shall  here 
after  happen  to  be  done  or  attempted,  in  what 
Manner  soever,  and  to  inspect  all  Indictments 
whatsoever,  so  before  you  or  any  of  you  taken,  or 
to  be  taken,  or  before  others  late  Justices  of  the 
Peace  in  the  said  County,  made  or  taken  and  not 
determined ;  and  to  make  and  continue  Processes 
thereupon,  against  all  and  singular  the  Persons 
so  indicted,  or  who,  before  you,  shall  happen  to 
be  indicted,  until  they  be  taken,  surrender  them 
selves,  or  be  out-lawed;  and  to  hear  and  deter 
mine  all  and  singular  the  Larcenies,  Thefts, 
Trespasses,  Forestallings,  Regratings,  Engross- 
ings,  Extortions,  unlawful  Assemblies,  Indict 
ments  aforesaid,  and  all  and  singular  other  the 
Premises,  according  to  the  Laws,  Ordinances  and 
Statutes,  of  our  said  State;  as  in  the  like  Case  it 
has  been  accustomed  or  ought  to  be  done ;  and  the 
same  Offenders  and  every  of  them,  for  their  Of 
fences,  by  Fines,  Ransoms,  Amerciaments,  For 
feitures  and  other  Means,  according  to  the  Laws 
and  Customs  of  our  said  State,  and  the  Form  of 
the  Ordinances  and  Statutes  aforesaid,  it  has  been 
accustomed  or  ought  to  be  done,  to  chastise  and 

[196] 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

punish.  You,  therefore,  and  every  of  you  are 
diligently  to  attend  to  the  keeping  of  the  Peace, 
Laws  and  Ordinances,  and  all  and  singular  other 
the  Premises,  and  at  certain  Days  and  Places, 
which  you,  or  any  three  of  you  shall,  in  that  be 
half,  appoint,  or  by  Law  shall  be  appointed,  you 
enquire  into  the  Premises,  and  hear  and  deter 
mine  all  and  singular  the  Premises,  and  perform 
and  fulfil  the  same  in  form  aforesaid;  doing 
therein  what  to  Justice  appertaineth,  according  to 
the  Laws  and  Ordinances  aforesaid:  Saving  to 
Us  our  Amerciaments  and  other  Things  to  Us 
thereof  belonging :  And  the  Sheriff  of  our  Coun 
ty  of  Dutchess  aforesaid,  at  certain  Days  and 
Places,  which  you  the  said  Justices  of  the  Peace 
of  the  said  County,  or  any  three  or  more  of  you 
shall  make  known  to  him,  shall  cause  to  come  be 
fore  you,  the  said  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  said 
County,  so  many  such  good  and  lawful  Men  of 
his  Bailiwick  or  County,  as  well  within  Liberties 
as  without,  by  whom  the  Truth  of  the  Matter  in 
the  Premises  shall  be  the  better  known  and  en 
quired  into :  For  all  and  singular  which  this  shall 
be  your  Commission,  for  and  during  our  good 
Pleasure,  to  be  signified  by  our  Council  of  Ap 
pointment.  In  Testimony  whereof,  We  have 
caused  these  our  Letters  to  be  made  Patent,  and 
the  Great  Seal  of  our  said  State  to  be  hereunto 
affixed:  Witness,  our  trusty  and  well-beloved 
George  Clinton,  Esquire,  Governor  of  our  said 
State,  General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  all 
the  Militia,  and  Admiral  of  the  Navy  of  the 
same ;  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  our 
said  Council  of  Appointment,  at  our  City  of  Al 
bany,  the  fifteenth  day  of  August,  in  the  Year  of 
[197] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  one, 
and  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  our  Independ- 

ence>  GEO.  CLINTON. 

Colonel  Ludington  also  served  with  some  distinc 
tion  as  a  member  of  Assembly  in  the  State  Legis 
lature,  for  Dutchess  County,  some  of  such  service 
being  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  thus 
served  in  the  Third  Session,  which  met  at  Kingston 
from  August  18,  1777,  to  October  25,  1779,  at  Al 
bany  from  January  27  to  March  14,  1780,  and  at 
Kingston  again  from  April  22  to  July  2, 1780 ;  in  the 
Fourth  Session,  which  met  at  Poughkeepsie  from 
September  7  to  October  10,  1780,  at  Albany  from 
January  17  to  March  31,  1781,  and  at  Poughkeepsie 
from  June  15  to  July  1,  1781 ;  in  the  Ninth  Session, 
which  met  in  New  York  City  from  January  12  to 
May  5,  1786;  and  in  the  Tenth  Session,  which  met  in 
New  York  City  from  January  12  to  April  21,  1787. 
He  appears  to  have  been  a  prominent  arid  influential 
member.  At  the  meeting  of  January,  1786,  he  was 
made  a  member  of  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee, 
and  of  a  special  committee  to  prepare  a  bill  for  the 
regulation  of  the  militia  and  the  establishment  of 
magazines.  The  records  of  that  meeting  show  that 
Colonel  Ludington  was  in  constant  attendance  and 
was  an  active  participant  in  the  business  of  the 
House.  He  is  recorded  as  voting  at  almost  every  di 
vision,  and  generally  appears  to  have  been  a  member 
of  the  majority.  On  March  1  it  was  represented  to 

C1983 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

the  Legislature  that  a  number  of  prisoners  confined 
in  the  jail  of  New  York  for  debt  were  reduced  to 
great  extremity  for  want  of  wood  and  firewood,  and 
were  in  danger  of  perishing  for  want  of  such  neces 
saries  ;  wherefore  a  committee  of  three,  Colonel  Lud- 
ington  being  one,  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  the 
matter — one  of  the  first  steps  toward  the  abolition  of 
imprisonment  for  debt.  On  March  6, 1787,  the  Leg 
islature  proceeded  to  the  nomination  and  appoint 
ment  of  "delegates  to  meet  with  delegates  as  may  be 
appointed  from  other  States,  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
revising  the  Articles  of  Confederation" — to  wit,  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  the  United  States. 
Colonel  Ludington,  who  was  a  staunch  Federalist, 
voted  for  the  appointment  of  Alexander  Hamilton, 
Robert  Yates,  and  John  Lansing,  Jr. 

Soon  after  there  arose  a  remarkable  illustration  of 
the  dilatory  disposition  of  governments  of  that  day 
in  dealing  with  some  matters  of  real  importance  in 
which  honor  and  good  faith  were  involved.  Away 
back  in  April,  1784,  Colonel  Ludington  had  sub 
mitted  to  the  Legislature  a  petition  relative  to  cer 
tain  certificates  for  depreciation  of  soldiers'  pay, 
which  he  had  lost  or  which  had  been  stolen  from  him. 
Mr.  Pell,  of  the  committee  to  which  the  petition  was 
referred,  had  reported  that  the  facts  were  as  stated 
in  the  petition,  and  that  the  petition  for  relief  ought 
to  be  granted.  Leave  was  granted  for  the  introduc 
tion  of  a  bill  to  that  effect,  and  the  bill  was  introduced 
and  passed  by  the  Assembly.  Either  it  was  not  con- 

C199] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

curred  in  by  the  Senate,  however,  or  for  some  reason 
it  was  not  put  into  effect.  For  now,  on  April  14, 
1787,  we  find  Colonel  Ludington  again  presenting 
to  the  Assembly,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  a  peti 
tion  setting  forth  that  certain  depreciation  certifi 
cates,  amounting  in  all  to  407  pounds  4  shillings,  had 
been  stolen  from  him,  and  that  after  passing  through 
divers  hands  were  paid  to  the  Commissioners  of  For 
feitures  for  the  purchase  of  a  forfeited  estate,  and 
were  then  in  the  treasury  of  the  State,  wherefore  he 
prayed  for  a  law  directing  the  treasurer  to  return 
them  to  him.  Mr.  Hamilton,  from  the  committee  to 
which  the  petition  was  referred,  reported  that  the 
facts  were  found  to  be  as  stated,  that  the  petitioner's 
case  would  be  very  unfortunate  if  he  were  to  be  finally 
deprived  of  the  benefit  of  the  certificates  which  had 
been  stolen  from  him,  and  that  it  would  be  a  proper 
act  of  generosity  in  the  State  to  direct  the  treasurer 
to  return  them  to  him.  The  committee  recommended 
that  a  clause  to  that  effect  be  inserted  in  some  bill 
then  before  the  House.  The  House,  however,  voted 
not  to  concur  in  the  report  of  the  committee,  and  it 
does  not  appear  that  any  further  step  toward  doing 
him  justice  was  taken  at  that  time.  Finally,  how 
ever,  on  March  12,  1792,  the  Legislature  adopted  the 
following  act : 

Whereas  certain  certificates  issued  by  the  au 
ditors  appointed  to  liquidate  and  to  settle  the  ac 
counts  of  the  troops  of  this  State  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  have  been  received  b  the  Com- 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

missioners  of  Forfeitures,  and  are  now  in  the 
treasury  of  this  State,  which  it  appears  to  this 
Legislature  were  lost  by  Henry  Ludenton,  and 
which  certificates  at  the  time  they  were  lost  were 
not  transferable,  otherwise  than  by  assignment; 
And  whereas  the  said  Henry  Ludenton  has 
prayed  relief  in  the  premises;  Therefore,  Be  it 
enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly,  That  when 
ever  the  United  States  shall  direct  that  the  resi 
due  of  the  twelve  hundred  thousand  dollars  may 
be  subscribed,  which  by  the  act  of  the  United 
States  entitled  "An  act  for  making  provision 
for  the  debt  of  the  United  States,"  passed  the  4th 
day  of  January,  1790,  had  not  been  subscribed 
before  the  last  day  of  September  last,  then  the 
Treasurer  of  this  State  is  hereby  authorized  and 
directed  to  deliver  unto  Henry  Ludenton  the 
aforesaid  certificates  .  .  being  the  certificates 
lost  by  the  said  Henry  Ludenton. 

Thus  nearly  eight  years  after  the  original  appeal 
for  relief,  which  was  acknowledged  to  be  valid  and 
worthy,  the  Legislature  voted  to  grant  such  relief  at 
some  indefinite  time  in  the  future,  conditioned  upon 
the  fulfilment  of  obligations  by  the  federal  govern 
ment,  which  had  already  shown  itself  dilatory  in  the 
matter ! 

One  of  the  most  important  divisions  in  which  Col 
onel  Ludington  voted  in  the  minority  was  that  con 
cerning  the  independence  of  the  State  of  Vermont, 
a  matter  over  which  there  had  been  danger  of  a  civil 
war.  Said  the  "County  Journal  and  Poughkeepsie 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Advertiser"  for  April  4,  1787:  "Last  Wednesday 
morning  the  important  question  for  declaring  the  In 
dependence  of  Vermont  was  debated  in  the  House  of 
the  Assembly.  It  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  as 
follows:"  The  poll  of  the  House  as  given  shows  32 
votes  in  the  affirmative,  and  21  in  the  negative,  Col 
onel  Ludington's  name  being  among  the  latter,  al 
though  his  friends  Hamilton  and  Lansing  voted  in 
the  affirmative. 

In  the  "New  York  Packet  and  American  Adver 
tiser"  of  February  27,  1783,  appeared  this  notice: 

"Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  Debtors  and 
Creditors  of  Stephen  Ludinton,  deceased,  who 
was  by  a  jury  of  inquest  said  to  have  been  mur 
dered  by  John  Akins,  to  meet  me  at  the  House  of 
Alexander  Mills  in  Fredericksburgh  on  Monday 
the  10th  day  of  March  next,  at  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  in  order  to  discharge  the  debts  due  the 
said  estate,  and  receive  payment  as  far  as  the 
estate  will  go  as  it  is  supposed  he  died  insolvent. 

"HENRY  LUDINGTON  Executor'' 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  on  March  9,  1810,  made 
Colonel  Ludington  one  of  the  incorporators  of  "a 
body  corporate  and  politic"  for  the  purpose  of  "mak 
ing  a  good  and  sufficient  turnpike  road  to  begin  at 
the  Highland  turnpike  road  near  the  house  of  Joseph 
C.  Voight  in  the  town  of  Cortlandt  and  County  of 
Westchester,  and  from  thence  to  or  near  the  house  of 
James  Mandeville  and  to  or  near  the  house  of  Sam- 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

uel  Owens,  in  the  town  and  county  aforesaid;  from 
thence  to  or  near  the  house  of  Jonathan  Ferris,  and 
to  or  near  the  house  of  Edward  Bugby  and  Solomon 
Avery  in  Philipstown  in  the  county  of  Dutchess; 
from  thence  running  up  Peekskill  Hollow,  to  or  near 
the  house  of  Rowland  Bailey,  and  to  or  near  the 
house  of  Henry  Ludington  in  the  town  of  Fred 
erick  ;  from  thence  running  to  the  great  road  west  of 
Quaker  Hill,  to  or  near  the  house  of  Thomas  How 
ard." 

It  should  be  added,  to  complete  the  record,  that 
Colonel  Ludington  was  in  1771  an  overseer  of  the 
poor  for  South  Precinct;  in  1772  he  was  assessor  of 
Fredericksburgh ;  and  in  1776,  1777,  and  1778  he 
was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Fredericksburgh. 

Colonel  Ludington  was  commonly  known  by  his 
military  title  to  the  end  of  his  life.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  however,  he  ceased  to  exercise  the  functions  of 
a  colonel  on  September  27, 1786.  An  act  of  the  Leg 
islature  of  New  York  of  April  4,  1782,  provided  that 
"in  case  of  the  death,  resignation  or  other  inability  to 
serve,  of  any  Colonel  now  commanding  a  regiment 
(of  militia) ,  no  Colonel  shall  thereafter  be  appointed 
thereto;  that  such  regiment  and  all  others  not  now 
commanded  by  a  Colonel  shall  henceforth  be  com 
manded  by  a  Lieutenant-  Colonel. ' '  This  act  was  doubt 
less  largely  the  outcome  of  the  deliberations  of  the 
committee  on  reorganization  of  the  militia  of  which 
Colonel  Ludington  was  a  member.  At  the  date  named 
in  1786,  accordingly,  he  retired  from  the  command 

[2033 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

of  the  regiment  with  which  he  had  so  long  been  iden 
tified,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Drake.  In  this  regiment  Archibald  Ludington  and 
Henry  Ludington,  Jr.,  sons  of  Colonel  Ludington,. 
were,  respectively,  paymaster  and  ensign.  Henry 
Ludington,  Jr.,  became  lieutenant  in  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Elias  Van  Ben- 
schoten,  and  on  June  7,  1793,  when  John  Drake 
moved  away  from  Dutchess  County  and  was  suc 
ceeded  in  command  of  Ludington' s  old  regiment  by 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Elijah  Townsend,  Henry  Lud 
ington,  Jr.,  became  a  captain  and  Archibald  Luding 
ton  paymaster  in  it.  Henry  Ludington,  Jr.,  filled 
that  place  until  March  16,  1797,  when,  owing  to  his 
removal  from  Dutchess  County,  he  resigned  and  was 
succeeded  by  Samuel  Smith.  Archibald  Ludington 
was  succeeded  by  Stephen  Waring  on  March  23» 
1803.  The  commission  of  Henry  Ludington,  Jr.,  as 
lieutenant,  is  preserved  in  the  possession  of  Charles 
H.  Ludington,  and  reads  as  follows: 

THE  PEOPLE  of  the  State  of  NEW-YORK, 
By  the  Grace  of  GOD,  free  and  independent; 

To  Henry  Ludinton,  Junior,  Gentleman,  Greet 
ing: 

We,  reposing  especial  Trust  and  Confidence,, 
as  well  in  your  Patriotism,  Conduct  and  Loyalty, 
as  is  your  Valour  and  Readiness  to  do  us  good 
and  faithful  Service ;  HAVE  appointed  and  con 
stituted,  and  by  these  Presents,  DO  appoint  and 
constitute  you,  the  said  Henry  Ludinton,  Junior,. 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

Lieutenant  of  a  Company  in  the  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  County  of  Dutchess,  whereof  John 
Drake,  Esquire,  is  Lieutenant-Colonel  Com 
mandant. 

You  are  therefore,  to  take  the  said  Company 
into  your  Charge  and  Care,  as  Lieutenant  there 
of,  and  duly  to  exercise  the  Officers  and  Soldiers 
of  that  Company  in  Arms,  who  are  hereby  com 
manded  to  obey  you  as  you  shall  from  Time  to 
Time  receive  from  our  General  and  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  Militia  of  our  said  State,  or  any 
other  your  superior  Officer,  according  to  the 
Rules  and  Discipline  of  War,  in  Persuance  of  the 
Trust  reposed  in  you ;  and  for  so  doing,  this  shall 
be  Your  Commission,  for  and  during  our  good 
Pleasure,  to  be  signified  by  our  Council  of  Ap 
pointment.  IN  TESTIMONY  whereof,  We 
have  caused  Our  Seal  for  Military  Commissions 
to  be  hereunto  affixed.  WITNESS  our  Trusty 
and  Well-beloved  GEORGE  CLINTON,  Es 
quire,  our  Governor  of  our  State  of  New- York, 
General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  all  the  Mili 
tia,  and  Admiral  of  the  Navy  of  the  same,  by  and 
with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  our  said  Council 
of  Appointment,  at  our  City  of  New- York,  the 
twenty-seventh  Day  of  March,  in  the  Year  of  our 
LORD,  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and 
Eighty-seven,  and  in  the  eleventh  Year  of  our 
Independence. 

Passed  the  Secretary's  Office,  7th  April,  1787. 
Robt.  Harpur,  D.,  Secretary. 

GEO.  CLINTON. 
(Governor's  signature  in  margin,  under  seal.) 

C205] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

Colonel  Ludington,  as  has  already  been  stated,  at 
first  occupied  his  estate  at  Fredericksburgh  under  a 
lease,  and  did  not  actually  buy  the  land  until  July 
15,  1812,  when  Samuel  Gouverneur  and  wife  made 
to  him  a  deed  for  229  acres.  Long  before  the  latter 
date,  however,  he  had  acquired  other  lands  in  Dutch- 
ess  County,  at  least  as  early  as  1781,  when  he  was 
the  owner  of  a  large  tract  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county  several  miles  from  his  home.  It  was  one  of 
the  perilous  duties  of  his  daughters  Sibyl  and  Re 
becca  frequently  to  ride  thither  on  horseback,  through 
the  Great  Swamp,  to  see  that  all  was  well  on  the 
property.  After  the  war  he  disposed  of  that  land,  as 
the  following  notice,  in  the  "County  Journal  and 
Dutchess  and  Ulster  Farmer's  Register,"  of  March 
24,  1789,  shows: 

To  Be  Sold  By  The  Subscriber: 

A  Farm  of  about  104  acres  of  land  in  Fredericks- 
town  in  the  County  of  Dutchess  lying  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Great  Swamp  near  the  place  where 
David  Akins  formerly  lived.  There  are  about  30 
tons  of  the  best  kind  of  English  hay  cut  yearly  on 
such  place,  and  considerable  more  meadow  hay 
may  be  made,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  plough  and 
timber  land,  a  good  bearing  orchard  of  the  best 
of  fruit,  a  large  convenient  new  dwelling  house 
and  a  stream  of  water  running  by  the  door.  The 
place  is  well  situated  for  a  merchant  or  tavern 
keeper.  Whoever  should  incline  to  purchase  said 
place  may  have  possession  by  the  first  of  May 
next;  the  payments  made  as  easy  as  possible  and 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

an  indisputable  title  given  for  the  same.  For 
further  particulars  inquire  of  the  subscriber  or 
Mr.  Edmund  Ogden  who  keeps  a  public  house  on 
the  Premises. 

HENRY  LUDINTON. 
March  9th,  1789. 


The  result  of  this  advertisement  was  the  sale  of  the 
farm  in  question  to  a  man  from  the  former  home  of 
the  Ludingtons  in  Connecticut.  This  appears  from 
a  document  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Patrick,  the 
original  of  an  agreement  made  on  November  5, 1790, 
between  Colonel  Ludington  and  James  Linsley,  of 
Branford,  Connecticut,  by  which  the  former  cove 
nanted  and  agreed  with  the  latter  "to  sell  a  certain 
farm  situate,  lying  and  being  in  Fredericksburgh 
butted  and  bounded  as  follows  adjoining  Croton 
River  on  the  west  side  and  on  the  south  by  Abijah 
Starr  &  Ebenezer  Palmer  and  on  the  north  by  P. 
Starr  &  Samuel  Huggins,  Containing  about  one 
hundred  and  five  acres."  The  price  to  be  paid  at 
various  times  and  in  various  sums  was  "414  pounds, 
New  York  currency."  "And  furthermore  the  said 
Ludinton  doth  further  agree  with  the  said  Linsley 
to  Enter  on  the  Farm  of  him  the  said  Ludinton 
where  he  now  Dwells  to  Cut  and  Carry  away  a  suffi 
ciency  of  timber  for  the  framing  of  a  Barn  of  the  fol 
lowing  Dimentions  forty  feet  in  Length  and  thirty 
feet  in  Breadth  and  the  said  Linsley  hath  further 
Liberty  to  enter  upon  the  home  farm  of  the  said  Lud- 

C207] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

inton  and  Cutt  sufficient  quantity  of  sawmill  logs  for 
to  cover  said  Barn  and  after  the  said  Linsley  has 
drawn  said  logs  to  the  saw  mill  of  the  sd  Ludinton 
he  the  said  Ludinton  will  saw  sd  Logs  without  delay 
free  from  all  cost  and  charges  of  said  Linsley." 

Colonel  Ludington  was  much  interested  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Frederickstown,  now  Patter 
son,  and  was  one  of  its  trustees.  On  May  22,  1793, 
he  and  his  fellow  trustees  purchased  for  the  church 
from  Stiles  Peet  and  his  wife  Lydia  a  plot  of  about 
a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land  for  a  burying  ground 
for  the  church,  the  price  being  at  the  rate  of  forty 
shillings  an  acre.  He  also  personally  gave  most  of 
the  lumber  required  for  building  the  first  academy  at 
Patterson,  an  edifice  which  was  in  later  years  de 
stroyed  by  fire. 

In  person  Colonel  Ludington  was  of  more  than 
ordinary  stature,  and  of  robust  frame  and  dignified 
and  commanding  presence.  He  was  of  an  eminently 
social  disposition,  and  in  the  later  years  of  his  life  he 
and  John  Jay  and  Colonel  Crane  were  accustomed 
often  to  meet  at  their  neighbor  Townsend's,  for  social 
evenings  over  their  pipes  and  mugs,  to  exchange 
memories  of  the  stirring  days  of  the  Revolution. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  commanded  in  a  high 
degree  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew 
him,  and  when  he  died  at  the  goodly  age  of  78  he  was 
universally  mourned.  He  died  of  consumption,  after 
a  prolonged  illness,  on  January  24,  1817.  His  re 
mains  were  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  the  Pres- 


Colonel  Luding'ton's  tombstone  at  Patterson  (formerly  part  of 
Fredericksburg-h),  X.  Y. 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

byterian  church  at  Patterson,  of  which  he  had  been  a 
trustee,  and  his  grave  was  marked  with  a  simple 
stone  bearing  only  this  inscription : 

H.L. 

In  Memory  of 

HENRY  LUDINGTON. 

Jany.  24,  1817. 

Aged  78  years. 

So  simple  was  the  epitaph  of  one  of  whom  Blake, 
the  historian  of  Putnam  County,  truly  says:  "Col. 
Ludington  was  one  of  the  most  active,  energetic  and 
unflinching  patriots  found  in  this  part  of  the  country 
during  the  Revolution,  and  much  do  we  regret  our 
inability  to  do  justice  to  the  character  and  sterling 
virtues  of  this  Revolutionary  patriot.  The  Govern 
ment  records,  however,  show  him  to  have  been  one  of 
the  bold  defenders  of  our  country's  rights." 

Colonel  Ludington's  wife,  Abigail,  survived  him 
eight  years,  and  then  on  August  3,  1825.  was  laid 
beside  him,  at  the  age  of  more  than  80  years. 

The  will  of  Colonel  Ludington,  now  on  file  in  the 
surrogate's  office  of  Putnam  County,  reads  as  fol 
lows: 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen! 

I,  Henry  Ludenton  of  the  Town  of  Fredericks 
County  of  Putnam  and  State  of  New  York, 
being  feeble  in  body  but  of  perfect  mind  and 

[209:1 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

memory,  thanks  be  given  unto  God,  calling  into 
mind  the  mortality  of  my  body  and  knowing  that 
it  is  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  die,  do  make 
and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testiment,  that  is 
to  say  principly  and  first  of  all  I  give  and  recom 
mend  my  Soul  unto  the  hands  of  Almighty  God 
That  gave  it,  and  my  body  I  recommend  to  the 
earth  to  be  buried  in  a  decent  Christian  burial  at 
the  discretion  of  my  executors,  nothing  doubting 
that  I  shall  receive  the  same  again  at  the  general 
Resurrection  by  the  mighty  power  of  God.  And 
as  touching  such  worldly  property  wherewith  it 
has  pleased  God  to  bless  me  with  in  this  life,  I  do 
give,  demise  and  dispose  of  in  the  following  man 
ner.  And  farm  first  of  all,  I  do  order  my  ex 
ecutors  to  sell  and  dispose  of  so  much  land  off  the 
north  end  of  my  farm  with  the  grist  mill  theron 
that  will  be  sufficient  to  pay  the  debt  that  is  owing 
from  me  to  Samuel  Go  vernier's  the  landlord,  the 
line  beginning  at  the  east  side  of  my  farm  on  the 
line  betwixt  me  and  the  aforesaid  Governier  and 
running  westwardly  to  the  north  of  my  barn  and 
dwelling  house  and  all  other  buildings  except  the 
aforesaid  mill  until  it  crosses  the  Mill  Brook,  and 
line  then  to  run  more  to  the  south  in  course  (case) 
a  straight  line  will  not  make  land  enough  to  dis 
charge  said  debt,  but  to  run  no  further  west  than 
the  east  fence  of  the  old  lot  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Old  Ridge  Lot,  and  secondly  all  the  re 
mainder  and  residue  of  my  said  farm  dwelling 
house  and  buildings  and  all  and  singular  the  ap 
purtenances  thereunto  belonging  to  remain  in  the 
hands  of  my  executors  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
Abigail  Ludenton  my  wife  and  Abigail  Luden- 
ton  my  daughter  and  Derie  Ludenton  my  son 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

and  Cornelia  Ludenton  my  Grand  Daughter  so 
long  as  Abigail  Ludenton  remains  my  widow  or 
in  case  she  should  not  marry,  until  her  decease, 
unless  the  said  Abigail  Ludenton  my  daughter 
or  said  Derrick  Ludenton  my  son  or  Cornelia 
Ludenton  should  marry  or  either  of  them  should 
marry  the  said  farm  to  remain  only  for  the  use 
and  benefit  of  those  who  are  unmarried  untill  my 
widdow  should  marry  or  untill  her  disceas  as  is 
above  expressed;  and  in  case  my  daughter  Abi 
gail  should  not  marry  before  the  disceas  of  my 
widow  she  then  at  the  deceas  of  my  widow  to  take 
her  choice  of  the  Rooms  in  the  Dwelling  house 
wherein  I  live  or  when  my  widdow  should  marry 
which  room  she  is  to  have  and  to  hold  as  long  as 
she  remains  single.  All  the  remainder  of  my 
farm  that  is  not  set  off  for  my  executors  to  sell  to 
discharge  the  debt  of  Samuel  Governier,  which 
land  lying  and  being  in  the  town  of  Frederick 
county  aforesaid,  I  do  give  and  bequeath  unto 
my  four  sons  Archibald  Ludenton,  Derrick  Lud 
enton,  Frederick  Ludenton,  Lewis  Ludenton,  to 
be  equally  divided  amongst  them  in  which  case 
the  said  Ludinton  and  Ludenton  is  to  pass  unto 
Derrick  Ludenton  at  the  division  thereof  one 
hundred  dollars  wich  farm  of  land  they  the  said 
Archibald,  Derrick,  Frederick  and  Lewis  Lud 
enton  and  their  heirs  is  to  have  and  to  hold  for 
ever  with  all  the  appertinances  thereunto  belong 
ing  ;  but  it  is  my  will  that  Derrick  Ludenton  my 
son's  proportion  of  the  farm  to  remain  in  the 
hands  of  my  executors  and  for  them  to  do  as  they 
shall  judge  best  for  him  with  it.  And  I  do  will 
and  bequeath  Tartulus  Ludenton  my  son  Fifteen 
Dollars  to  be  paid  out  of  removable  property,  and 

3 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

after  said  fifteen  dollars  is  paid  and  all  my  debts 
that  my  land  is  not  sold  to  pay  is  paid  and  dis 
charged,  to  pay  which  debts  is  my  will  that  my 
executors  should  sell  such  and  so  much  of  the 
movable  property  they  shall  judge  will  least  dis 
commode  the  heirs  which  the  residue  is  left  to  and 
share  who  is  to  have  the  property,  and  it  is  my 
will  that  all  movable  property  should  remain  in 
the  hands  of  my  widdow  for  her  use  and  the  use 
•of  Derrick  Ludenton  my  son,  Abigail  my  daugh 
ter,  to  remain  as  the  use  of  the  farm  is  above 
discribed  to  remain  in  the  hands  of  my  executors 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  Abigail  Ludenton  my 
wife  and  Abigail  Ludenton  my  daughter  and 
Derrick  Ludenton  my  son  and  Cornelia  Luden 
ton  my  grand  daughter  untill  my  wife  marries  or 
untill  her  disceas,  unless  Abigail,  Derrick  or  Cor 
nelia  or  one  of  them  should  marry,  and  the  one 
that  marries  is  to  have  use  and  benefit  no  longer 
of  said  property  until  disposed  of  as  is  hereafter 
directed.  And  I  do  will  and  bequeath  unto  my 
six  daughters  at  the  deceas  or  marriage  of  my 
widow  all  my  movable  property  to  be  equally  di 
vided  amongst  them,  that  is  to  say  Sibyl  Ogden, 
Rebecca  Pratt,  May  Ferris,  Anna  Colwell,  Abi 
gail  Ludenton  and  Sophiah  Caverly  my  daugh 
ters. 

And  for  the  further  surety  of  this  my  last  will 
and  testament  I  nominate  and  appoint  John  Hop 
kins  of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  County  of  Dutch- 
ess  and  State  of  New  York,  and  Elijah  Wixon 
of  the  town  of  Fredericks  and  County  of  Putnam 
and  State  aforesaid  my  sole  executors  of  this  my 
last  will  and  testiment  and  I  do  hereby  disallow, 
revoke  and  annull  all  and  singular  every  other 


AFTER  THE  WAR 

former  will  testament  and  bequeath  and  executors 
by  me  in  any  wise  before  mentioned  willed  and 
bequeath,  ratifying  and  allowing  this  and  no 
other  to  be  my  last  will  and  testiment.  In  witness 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this 
seventh  day  of  April  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen. 

HENRY  LUDENTON.  L.  S. 

Signed  sealed  and  pronounced 
in  presence  of  us 

Stephen  Merritt 
John  Burtch. 


An  interesting  side-light  is  cast  upon  one  feature 
of  this  will,  as  well  as  upon  the  later  years  of  Col 
onel  Ludington's  life  and  the  years  following  his 
death,  by  a  letter  written  in  April,  1881,  to  Mr.  Pa 
trick  by  Mrs.  Julia  L.  Comfort,  of  Catskill,  New 
York,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Ludington's  son,  Ter- 
tullus  Ludington.  Speaking  of  the  old  homestead 
at  Frederickstown,  and  the  members  of  the  family 
there,  Mrs.  Comfort  said : 

I  was  so  young  when  last  there,  and  conse 
quently  do  not  remember  much  about  them.  It 
was  the  winter  before  Grandma  Luddington 
died.  She  gave  my  Mother  Grandfather's  gun 
and  sword,  and  I  think  the  powder  horn  to  my 
brother  Henry  because  he  was  named  after  him. 
They  were  all  mounted  with  silver.  The  first 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

time  we  were  there  was  in  the  fall  when  chestnuts 
were  ripe.  There  was  a  very  large  tree  in  the  rear 
of  the  house,  and  Uncle  Fred's  children,  my  sister 
and  myself  wished  to  get  the  chestnuts  but  could 
not.  Grandma  wanted  Uncle  Derrick  to  cut  the 
tree  down  for  us,  but  he  said  it  would  take  two 
weeks  to  do  it,  it  was  so  large. 

My  Father  was  with  us,  and  Grandfather  said 
to  him,  (he  always  called  him  Tarty,)  "I  am 
going  to  make  a  will,  and  I  owe  you  for  five  bar 
rels  of  pork,  but  as  I  have  not  got  the  money  just 
now  I  wrill  remember  it  in  my  will."  (It  was  in 
war  time  (War  of  1812)  and  pork  was  selling 
for  thirty  dollars  a  barrel.)  Father  told  him  he 
might  give  it  to  Archie,  as  he  was  very  poor  and 
Father  was  doing  a  good  business  and  did  not 
need  it,  but  Archie  said  he  never  rec'd  a  cent  of  it. 

The  last  time  Aunt  Ogden  was  here,  she  was 
telling  us  how  she  and  Aunt  Sophia  (probably 
a  slip  of  the  pen  for  Rebecca)  were  alone  in  the 
house  in  war  time  (Revolutionary  War).  They 
had  had  a  fence  built  around  the  house,  and  they 
each  had  a  gun,  and  once  in  a  while  they  would 
fire  one  off  to  make  the  soldiers  think  there  were 
men  in  the  house. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

IT  has  already  been  observed  that  the  earlier  gen 
erations  of  the  Ludington  family,  in  colonial 
days,  were  prolific ;  as,  indeed,  the  Ludingtons  of  the 
Old  Country  are  said  to  have  been.  In  revolutionary 
days,  Comfort,  Elisha,  Stephen,  and  other  collateral 
relatives  of  his  were  the  comrades  of  Henry  Luding 
ton  in  the  war  and  his  neighbors  in  Dutchess  and  the 
adjoining  counties.  Their  descendants,  and  the  de 
scendants  of  those  of  Colonel  Ludington's  twelve 
children  who  married  and  had  issue,  have  been  nu 
merous,  and  many  of  them  have  made  their  mark  in 
contemporary  affairs  in  various  parts  of  the  land.  It 
is  not  the  purpose  of  this  work,  nor  would  its  compass 
permit  it,  to  give  any  detailed  chronicle  of  all  the 
ramifications  of  the  family.  Brief  notices  of  a  few 
of  its  members  follow.  Let  us  first  deal  with  some  of 
a  collateral  line. 

Colonel  Henry  Ludington  married,  as  already 
noted,  his  cousin  Abigail  Ludington.  Her  brother, 
Comfort  Ludington,  who  has  been  mentioned  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolution,  had  a  son  named  Zalmon, 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

who  in  turn  had  a  son  also  named  Zalmon.  The  last 
named  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812;  in  1818  he 
went  to  Virginia,  and  four  years  later  married  Lo- 
vina  Hagan,  of  Preston  County.  Three  of  his  chil 
dren  are  still  living,  namely:  Mrs.  M.  L.  Patrick,  of 
Louisville,  Kentucky;  Dr.  Horace  Ludington,  of 
Omaha,  Nebraska;  and  General  Marshall  I.  Lud 
ington,  U.  S.  A.  Another,  Colonel  Elisha  H.  Lud 
ington,  U.  S.  A.,  died  in  1891.  Zalmon  Ludington 
himself  lived  to  be  more  than  ninety  years  of  age, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  was  able  to  make  an 
important  public  address  in  the  city  of  Phila 
delphia. 

One  of  the  sons  of  Zalmon  Ludington,  Elisha  H. 
Ludington,  entered  the  United  States  Army  as  a  cap 
tain  in  1861,  did  important  field  service  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  in  1863,  being  engaged  in  the 
battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  and  for 
"gallant  and  meritorious  service"  in  the  latter  con 
flict  was  bre vetted  a  major  on  July  2,  1863.  On 
March  13,  1865,  he  was  brevetted  lieutenant-colonel 
"for  meritorious  services  during  the  war,"  and  also 
colonel  on  the  same  date  "for  faithful  and  merito 
rious  services  in  his  department."  He  served  at 
Washington  and  elsewhere  as  assistant  inspector- 
general  until  his  retirement  for  disability  on  March 
27, 1879,  and  died  on  January  21,  1891. 

Marshall  I.  Ludington  was  born  in  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  on  July  4,  1839,  and  entered 
the  army  as  captain  of  volunteers  and  acting  quar- 


FREDERICK  LTTDINETDN, 
Son  of  Col.  Henry  Ludington. 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

termaster-general  on  October  20,  1862.  Like  his 
brother  he  served  in  the  Chancellorsville  and  Gettys 
burg  campaigns,  in  the  Wilderness,  and  at  Peters 
burg,  and  then  became  chief  quartermaster  at  Wash 
ington.  In  January,  1867,  he  became  major  and 
quartermaster  in  the  regular  army,  and  served  in 
various  places  and  was  successively  promoted  until 
in  1898  he  was  made  brigadier-general  and  quarter 
master-general  of  the  United  States  Army,  with 
headquarters  at  Washington.  For  several  years  he 
had  been  acting  quartermaster-general,  but  had  not 
enjoyed  full  authority  to  organize  the  department 
according  to  his  own  ideas.  Consequently,  when  he 
became  quartermaster-general,  only  four  days  before 
the  declaration  of  war  with  Spain,  he  was  confronted 
with  a  task  of  peculiar  difficulty,  for  which  he  had 
not  been  able  to  make  satisfactory  preparations  such 
as  had  been  made  in  other  branches  of  the  service. 
Before  he  retired  from  the  office,  however,  he  had  so 
perfected  the  organization  and  equipment  as  to  make 
the  department  a  model  which  military  experts  from 
Europe  were  glad  to  study.  He  served  until  July  4, 
1903,  when  he  was  retired  under  the  law  for  age,  with 
the  rank  of  major-general,  U.  S.  A.  Since  his  re 
tirement  he  has  lived  at  Skaneateles,  N.  Y. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  Frederick  Ludington, 
son  of  Colonel  Henry  Ludington,  who  with  his 
brother  Lewis  engaged  for  a  time  in  general  mer 
chandising  at  Frederickstown,  or  Kent,  N.  Y.  He 
married  Susannah  Griffith,  and  among  their  children 

£217] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

was  a  son  to  whom  they  gave  the  name  of  Harrison, 
in  honor  of  the  general  who  was  just  then  winning 
distinction  in  the  United  States  Army  and  who  after 
ward  became  President.  Harrison  Ludington  was 
born  at  Kent,  New  York,  on  July  31,  1812,  and 
served  for  a  time  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  and  uncle's 
store.  In  1838  he  removed  to  Milwaukee,  Wiscon 
sin,  in  company  with  his  uncle,  Lewis  Ludington, 
and  there  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  in  part 
nership  with  his  uncle  Lewis  and  later  with  his 
younger  brother,  Nelson.  They  also  had  extensive 
interests  in  the  lumber  trade.  Withdrawing  from 
their  firm,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Messrs.  D. 
Wells  and  A.  G.  Van  Schaick,  in  the  same  business, 
with  extensive  lumber  mills  on  Green  Bay.  He  was 
for  many  years  conspicuously  identified  with  the  de 
velopment  of  the  city  of  Milwaukee,  and  as  the  pro 
prietor  of  a  "general  store"  is  said  to  have  purchased 
the  first  bag  of  wheat  ever  brought  to  market  at  that 
place.  He  served  for  two  terms  as  an  alderman  of 
Milwaukee,  and  in  1872-75  was  mayor  of  that  city. 
His  admirable  administration  of  municipal  affairs 
fixed  the  attention  of  the  whole  State  upon  him,  and 
as  a  result  he  was  elected  governor  for  the  two  years 
1876  and  1877.  He  filled  that  office  with  distin 
guished  success,  but  at  the  end  of  his  single  term  re 
tired  from  public  life  and  resumed  his  manufactur 
ing  pursuits,  in  which  he  continued  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  Milwaukee  on  June  17,  1891. 
George  Ludington,  second  son  of  Frederick  Lud- 


HDN,    HARRISON    LUDINDTDN, 

G-nvETnoT  nf  Wisconsin,  1B7B-7B. 
Grandson  of   Cal.  Henry   Ludington, 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

Ington,  and  grandson  of  Colonel  Henry  Ludington, 
was  born  in  Putnam  County  and  spent  his  life  there. 
He  married  Emeline  C.  Travis.  For  some  years  he 
occupied  and  conducted  the  store  which  had  formerly 
been  managed  by  his  father  and  uncle,  as  already 
related,  and  afterward  became  cashier  of  the  Bank 
•of  Kent,  later  known  as  the  Putnam  County 
National  Bank,  a  place  which  he  filled  until  his 
death. 

A  great-grandson  of  Colonel  Henry  Ludington, 
through  his  son  Frederick  and  the  latter's  daughter 
Caroline,  is  Lewis  S.  Patrick,  formerly  in  govern 
ment  service  at  Washington  but  now  and  for  many 
years  living  at  Marinette,  Wisconsin.  To  his  pains 
taking  and  untiring  labors  must  be  credited  the  col 
lection  of  a  large  share  of  the  data  upon  which  this 
memoir  of  his  ancestor  is  founded. 

Sibyl  Ludington,  Colonel  Ludington'  s  oldest 
•daughter,  who  married  Henry  Ogden,  a  lawyer  of 
Catskill,  N.  Y.,  (elsewhere  called  Edward  and  Ed 
mund,)  went  to  live  at  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  and  bore 
four  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  distinguished 
career  of  one  of  these  sons  may  well  be  told  in  a 
quotation  from  the  "New  York  Observer"  of  October 
18,  1855,  as  follows: 


Major  Edmund  A.  Ogden,  of  the  United 
States  army,  who  recently  died  of  cholera  at  Fort 
Riley,  Kansas  Territory,  was  born  at  Catskill, 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  20th,  1810.  Soon  after,  he  removed 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

to  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  he 
entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy. 
On  graduating,  he  was  attached  as  brevet  Second 
Lieutenant  to  the  First  Regiment  of  Infantry, 
then  stationed  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  He  was  sub 
sequently  appointed  a  First  Lieutenant  in  the 
Eighth  Infantry,  where  he  served  until  appointed 
a  Captain  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department,  in 
which  corps  he  remained  until  his  death.  He 
served  with  credit  and  distinction  through  the 
Black  Hawk,  Florida  and  Mexican  wars,  and 
was  created  a  Major  by  brevet,  for  meritorious 
conduct  in  the  last  named  of  these  wars. 

His  services,  ever  faithfully  performed,  have 
been  arduous  and  responsible.  He  has  disbursed 
for  the  government  millions  of  the  public  money ; 
he  has  labored  hard,  and  always  to  the  purpose, 
and  after  giving  to  his  country  five  and  twenty 
years  of  hard  and  useful  service,  he  has  died  poor. 

For  the  last  six  years  previous  to  last  spring, 
Major  Ogden  wras  stationed  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  where  he  has  rendered  important  service 
to  the  army  in  his  capacity  of  Quartermaster. 
From  this  post  he  was  ordered  to  California,  and 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  New  York  with  the 
expectation  of  embarking  on  the  20th  of  April 
last,  when  his  orders  were  suddenly  suspended, 
and  he  was  sent  back  to  assist  in  outfitting  the  ex 
pedition  against  the  Sioux  Indians.  He  was 
afterwards  charged  with  the  arduous  duty  of 
erecting,  within  three  months,  barracks,  quarters 
and  stables  for  a  regiment  of  troops  at  Fort  Riley 
— a  point  about  150  miles  west  of  Leaven  worth, 
and  which  he  had  himself  selected  as  a  suitable 
place  for  a  government  post,  when  stationed  at 


I 

I 

H-l 


frl 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

Fort  Leavenworth.  This  place  was  not  settled, 
and  was  an  almost  perfect  wilderness.  He  took 
with  him  about  five  hundred  mechanics  and  la 
borers,  with  tools  and  provisions,  and  commenced 
his  labors.  In  a  new  and  unsettled  country,  so 
destitute  of  resources,  many  obstacles  were  en 
countered,  but  just  as  they  were  being  overcome, 
and  the  buildings  were  progressing,  cholera  in  its 
most  fatal  and  frightful  form  made  its  appear 
ance  among  the  men,  from  two  to  four  of  them 
dying  every  day.  Far  removed  from  homes  and 
kindred,  and  accustomed  to  depend  upon  Major 
Ogden  for  the  supply  of  their  daily  wants,  they 
turned  to  him  in  despair  for  relief  from  the  pesti 
lence.  He  labored  among  them  night  and  day, 
nursing  the  sick  and  offering  consolation  to  the 
dying.  At  last  the  heavy  hand  of  death  was  laid 
upon  him,  and  worn  out  with  care,  watching 
and  untiring  labors,  he  fell  a  victim  to  the 
disease  whose  ravages  he  had  in  vain  attempted 
to  stay. 

In  the  death  of  this  officer  the  army  has  lost  one 
who  was  an  ornament  to  its  list ;  his  own  corps  has 
lost  one  of  its  most  efficient  members — one  whom 
they  appreciated,  and  whom  they  delighted  to 
praise.  Among  his  associates  in  the  army  there  is 
but  one  sentiment — that  of  regret  for  his  loss  and 
admiration  for  his  professional  and  private  char 
acter,  and  love  for  his  estimable  qualities.  His 
associates  in  the  army  are  not  the  only  sufferers ; 
but  many  and  many  in  various  parts  of  the 
land  have  lost  a  warm  and  true  friend,  and  the 
country  has  lost  an  honest  man  and  a  Christian 
soldier.  .  .  . 

In  the  hour  of  death,  far  from  all  he  most  loved 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

on  earth,  he  was  cheered  by  his  Christian  hope. 
His  faith  was  unshaken  and  enduring,  and 
proved  capable  of  supporting  him  in  that  last  sad 
hour.  Although  weak  and  exhausted,  he  repeated 
the  Lord's  Prayer  audibly,  and  said  to  his  friend 
the  chaplain,  who  was  by  his  side,  "Tell  my 
dear  wife  and  children  to  try  and  meet  me  in 
heaven,"  and  then  sank  sweetly  and  quietly  to 
rest. 

So  died  the  Christian  soldier,  in  the  vigor  of 
manhood,  and  at  the  post  of  duty.  Bound  as  he 
was  by  so  many  tender  ties  to  this  earth,  not  a 
murmur  escaped  his  lips,  but  he  met  his  summons 
with  a  cheerful  resignation  to  that  Providence 
whose  dealings  he  had  recognized  through  life, 
and  in  whom  he  trusted  in  death.  .  .  . 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  evidences  of  the 
estimation  in  which  Major  Ogden  was  held  at 
Fort  Riley  by  the  residents  and  the  men  in  his 
employ.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  The 
Kansas  Herald  of  the  10th: 

"The  death  of  Major  Ogden  left  a  deep  gloom 
upon  the  spirits  of  all  the  men,  which  time  does 
not  obliterate.  His  tender  solicitude  for  the 
spiritual  and  bodily  welfare  of  those  under  him; 
his  unceasing  labors  with  the  sick,  and  his  forget- 
fulness  of  self  in  attendance  upon  others,  until 
he  was  laid  low,  have  endeared  his  memory  to 
every  one  there.  And,  as  a  token  of  affection, 
they  are  now  engaged  in  erecting  a  fine  monu 
ment  which  shall  mark  their  appreciation  of  the 
departed.  The  monument,  which  will  be  of  the 
native  stone  of  the  locality,  is  to  be  placed  on  one 
of  the  high  promontories  at  Fort  Riley,  and  can 
be  seen  from  many  a  distant  point  by  those  ap- 


I 


I 

1 

(J 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

preaching  the  place.    It  will  bear  the  following 
inscription : 

"Erected  to  the  memory  of 
BREVET  MAJOR  E.  A.  OGDEN, 

the  founder  of  Fort  Riley; 

a  disinterested  patriot  and  a  generous  friend; 

a  refined  gentleman;  a  devoted  husband 

and  father, 
and  an  exemplary  Christian. 

Few  men  were  more  respected  in  their  lives,  or 
more  lamented  in  their  deaths.  As  much  the  vic 
tim  of  duty  as  of  disease,  he  calmly  closed  a  life, 
in  the  public  service,  distinguished  for  integrity 
and  faithfulness. 


BREVET  MAJOR  E.  A.  OGDEN, 

Assistant  Quartermaster,  United  States  Army, 
departed  this  life,  at  Fort  Riley,  August  3d, 
1855,  in  the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 


'And  I  heard  a  voice  saying  unto  me,  write, 
blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from 
henceforth.  Yea,  saith  the  spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labors ;  and  their  works  do  follow 
them.' ' 

A  younger  brother  of  Major  Edmund  Ogden  was 
Richard  Ludington  Ogden,  who  became  a  captain  in 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

the  United  States  Army,  and  was  an  extensive  and 
adventurous  traveler. 

The  sixth  son  and  youngest  child  of  Colonel  Henry 
Ludington  was  Lewis  Ludington,  who  was  born 
in  Fredericksburgh  on  June  25,  1786.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  engaged  with  his  elder  brother  Frederick 
in  conducting  a  general  store  near  their  home.  A 
few  years  later  he  married  Polly  Townsend,  the 
daughter  and  oldest  child  of  Samuel  Townsend  and 
his  wife  Keturah  Crosby.  The  Townsends  had  come 
to  Dutchess  County  many  years  before  from  Long 
Island,  and  Polly  Townsend's  great-grandfather, 
Elihu  Townsend,  settled  on  a  farm  in  South  East 
Precinct,  close  to  the  Westchester  County  line.  He 
died  about  1804,  at  the  age  of  102  years,  and  was  able 
to  walk  about  the  yard  six  weeks  before  his  death. 
For  several  years  after  their  marriage  Lewis  and 
Polly  Townsend  Ludington  lived  in  a  cottage  near 
the  Ludington  homestead  at  Fredericksburgh,  or 
Kent,  as  it  was  then  renamed.  Then,  in  the  spring 
of  1816,  they  removed  to  the  village  of  Carmel,  where 
soon  after  Lewis  Ludington  bought  property  which 
is  still  owned  by  members  of  the  family.  In  the  fall 
of  1855  he  completed  and  occupied  the  house  which 
is  still  the  family  homestead.  The  wood  of  which  this 
house  was  built  was  cut  on  lands  owned  by  Mr.  Lud 
ington  in  Wisconsin,  was  sawed  in  his  mills  at 
Oconto  in  that  State,  and  was  shipped  from  Green 
Bay  to  Buffalo  in  the  lake  schooner  Lewis  Luding 
ton.  This  circumstance  suggests  the  fact  that  Lewis 


LEWIS    LTirilNGTDN, 
Son  of  Cnl,  Henry  Ludington, 

;From  portrait  by  Frank  B.  Carpenter.) 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

Ludington  was  strongly  identified  with  business  in 
terests  in  Wisconsin.  He  went  West  in  the  fall  of 
1838,  in  company  with  his  nephew,  Harrison  Lud 
ington,  already  mentioned,  and  Harvey  Burchard, 
of  Carmel,  N.  Y.  They  visited  Milwaukee,  which 
was  then  a  mere  village,  and  during  that  winter  made 
several  long  trips  on  horseback  through  the  interior 
of  Wisconsin,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  govern 
ment  lands.  They  purchased  extensive  tracts,  largely 
with  a  view  to  the  lumber  trade,  and  in  1839  they 
formed  at  Milwaukee  the  general  mercantile  firm  of 
Ludington,  Burchard  &  Co.,  of  which  Lewis  Lud 
ington  was  the  eldest  and  Harrison  Ludington  the 
youngest  member.  A  year  or  two  later  Burchard  re 
tired  and  the  firm  became  Ludington  &  Co.,  Harri 
son's  younger  brother  Nelson  being  taken  into  it. 
Nelson  Ludington,  by  the  way,  was  afterward  presi 
dent  of  the  Fifth  National  Bank  of  Chicago,  and  for 
many  years  was  at  the  head  of  large  and  successful 
lumbering  and  manufacturing  interests  and  was 
prominent  in  commercial  life  in  Chicago.  For  nearly 
twenty  years  Lewis  Ludington  was  the  head  of 
the  firm  of  Ludington  &  Co.,  which  was  one  of  the 
foremost  in  Milwaukee,  and  which  conducted  what 
was  for  those  days  a  business  of  great  magnitude. 
The  firm  also  had  lumber  mills  at  Oconto  and  docks 
at  Milwaukee.  About  1843,  Lewis  Ludington 
bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Columbia  County,  Wiscon 
sin,  and  in  July  of  the  following  year  laid  out  there 
on  the  city  of  Columbus.  For  many  years  he  per- 

DM5] 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

sonally  directed  and  encouraged  the  development  of 
the  new  community,  which  grew  to  be  a  city  of  con 
siderable  population  and  wealth. 

Thus  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  Mr.  Lud- 
ington  conducted  a  number  of  enterprises  in  Wiscon 
sin,  enjoying  at  all  times  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  those  who  knew  him  and  ranking  among  the  best 
representative  citizens  of  the  two  States  with  which 
he  was  identified.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  ex 
erted  much  influence  in  party  councils,  especially 
opposing  the  extension  of  slavery,  but  would  never 
accept  public  office,  though  frequently  urged  to  do 
so.  He  died  on  September  3,  1857,  at  Kenosha,  Wis 
consin,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  family 
lot  in  Raymond  Hill  Cemetery,  at  Carmel,  N.  Y. 

The  fifth  child  of  Lewis  Ludington  is  Charles 
Henry  Ludington,  who  was  born  at  Carmel,  N.  Y., 
on  February  1,  1825.  Among  the  schools  which  he 
attended  in  boyhood  was  one  conducted  in  the  former 
home  of  "Peter  Parley"  at  Ridgefield,  Conn.  In 
1842  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  dry-goods 
store  in  New  York,  and  later  was  for  many  years  a 
member  of  a  leading  firm  in  that  same  business— 
the  firm  of  Lathrop,  Ludington  &  Co.,  at  first  on 
Cortlandt  Street,  and  afterward  on  Park  Row.  A 
considerable  portion  of  the  business  of  this  firm  was 
with  the  southern  States,  but  a  few  years  before  the 
Civil  War  its  name  was  published  in  the  notorious 
"black-list"  of  the  pro-slavery  Secessionists,  as  an 
"Abolitionist"  concern,  and  as  a  result  all  trade  with 


CHARLES  HENRY  LUHINGTDN, 
Grandson  of  Col,  Henry  Ludington. 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

that  section  of  the  country  was  ended.  The  "black 
list"  at  first  comprised  only  the  names  of  Bo  wen, 
Holmes  &  Co.,  Lathrop,  Ludington  &  Co.,  and  a  few 
others,  but  in  time  was  increased  until  it  embraced 
about  forty  of  the  leading  houses  in  wholesale  lines 
in  New  York,  Boston,  and  Philadelphia,  and  was 
widely  published  throughout  the  South,  to  injure  if 
possible  the  business  of  those  who,  like  Bo  wen, 
Holmes  &  Co.,  "sold  their  goods  but  not  their  prin 
ciples."  Of  course  the  outbreak  of  the  war  ended 
what  little  trade  remained  for  these  houses  in  the 
South,  but  Lathrop,  Ludington  &  Co.  more  than  re 
couped  elsewhere  the  losses  of  their  southern  trade, 
and  before  the  end  of  the  war  had  become  the  third 
leading  firm  in  that  line  in  New  York.  Mr.  Luding 
ton  was  an  ardent  upholder  of  the  Union.  Unable 
himself  to  go  to  the  war  as  a  soldier,  he  employed  and 
sent  a  substitute,  and  his  firm  contributed  large  sums 
for  the  recruiting  and  equipping  of  troops  in  New 
York  City  and  in  Putnam  County.  Retiring  in 
1868,  he  has  since  that  time  been  engaged  in  various 
personal  enterprises  in  New  York  and  in  the  West. 

James  Ludington,  the  sixth  child  of  Lewis  Lud 
ington,  was  born  at  Carmel,  on  April  18,  1827,  went 
to  Milwaukee  in  1843,  worked  in  the  establishment 
of  Ludington  &  Co.,  aided  his  father  in  founding  the 
town  of  Columbus,  and  was  for  a  time  his  father's 
resident  agent  there.  Later,  at  Milwaukee,  he  was 
treasurer  of  a  railroad  company  and  vice-president 
of  the  Bank  of  the  West  at  Madison,  Wisconsin.  In 

[2273 


HENRY  LUDINGTON 

1859  he  acquired  extensive  sawmills  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Pere  Marquette  River,  in  Michigan,  and  there 
founded  the  city  of  Ludington.  He  died  on  April  1, 
1891. 

In  addition  to  the  impress  thus  widely  made  upon 
the  military,  political,  business  and  other  history  of  the 
United  States  by  members  of  the  family,  the  name  of 
Ludington,  in  memory  of  the  influence  and  achieve 
ments  of  those  who  have  borne  it,  is  honorably  in 
scribed  upon  the  maps  of  no  fewer  than  four  of  the 
States.  A  village  of  Putnam  County,  at  the  site  of 
the  old  homestead  of  colonial  and  revolutionary  times, 
bears,  as  we  have  seen,  the  name  of  Ludingtonville— 
at  once  a  tribute  to  the  Ludington  family  and  an  un 
fortunate  example  of  the  unhappy  American  habit, 
now  less  prevalent  than  formerly,  of  adding  "ville" 
to  local  names.  Far  better  was  the  bestowal  of  the 
simple  and  sufficient  name  of  Ludington  upon  the 
lake  port  in  Michigan,  referred  to  in  the  preceding 
notice  of  James  Ludington's  life.  The  same  name  is 
borne  by  a  village  in  the  parish  of  Calcasieu,  in  south 
western  Louisiana,  while  the  part  the  Ludington 
family  played  in  the  settlement  and  upbuilding  of 
the  State  of  Wisconsin  is  commemorated  in  the  name 
of  a  village  in  Eau  Claire  County,  which  retains  an 
old  and  familiar  variant  of  spelling,  Luddington. 

The  quoted  tribute  to  the  English  Ludingtons  of 
former  centuries,  with  which  this  volume  was  begun, 
might  well,  mutatis  mutandis.,  be  recalled  at  its  close 
for  application  to  the  Ludingtons  of  America.  The 


SOME  LATER  GENERATIONS 

boast  of  being  of  "great  estate"  is  worthily  matched 
with  the  record  of  having  contributed  something  of 
substantial  value  to  the  common  wealth  of  the  Great 
Republic,  and  travels  in  Eastern  lands  are  rivalled 
with  travels  and  labors  in  the  greater  regions  of  the 
West ;  while  even  wars  against  the  Paynim  and  loy 
alty  to  the  King  did  not  surpass  in  merit  the  war  for 
liberty  and  independence  and  loyalty  to  the  intrinsic 
rights  of  man.  In  this  view  of  the  case,  it  is  con 
fidently  hoped  that  not  only  for  the  sake  of  family 
affection,  but  also  for  its  historical  interest,  it  will  be 
deemed  worth  the  while  to  have  told  thus  briefly  and 
simply  the  story  of  Henry  Ludington. 


[229:1 


INDEX 


Aikins,  David,  affidavit  of,  137 
Angell,  Col.  Israel,  quoted,  168 
Arnold,  Seymour,  petition  of,  183 

Beatty,  Col.  W.,  166 

"Birch,  Harvey,"  114 

Border  Warfare  in  Revolution,  133 

Branford,  Conn.,  24 

Brinckerhoff,  Col.  Dirck,  replies  to 

Clinton,  99 

Burgoyne's  surrender,  106 
Burke's  Heraldry,  quoted,  4 
Byington,  John,  affidavit  of,  34 

Chatterton  Hill,  see  White  Plains 
Clinton,  Fort,  capture  of,  105 
Clinton,    George,    commander    of 
militia,  178;     order    to    Colonel 
Graham,    86;    troubled    by    dis 
affection    of    militia,    92;    diffi 
culties  in  raising  levies,  94;  or 
ders  to  Colonel  Ludington,  96; 
orders  countermanded,  97;  meets 
disaster    at    Fort    Montgomery, 
105;  urges   defense  of   Hudson, 
106;  letters  to  Colonel  Luding 
ton,   160,   170,  179,   185;  to  Col 
onel    Hopkins,    173;    to    Colonel 
Van  Bunschoten,  181 ;  to  General 
Swartwout,  181 
Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  105 
Clinton,  James,  105 
Colony  Record  of  Deeds,  of  Con 
necticut,  quoted,  20 
Comfort,  Mrs.  Julia  L.,  letter  to 

Mr.  Patrick,  213 
Cooper,  James   Fenimore,  quoted, 

114 

Cowing,  Daniel,  petition  of,  183 
Crabb,  John,  arrest  of,  143 
Crosby,  Enoch,  original  of  "Har 
vey  Birch,"  115;  narrative  of  his 
services  as  American  spy,  118 


Dana,  Francis,  at  Colonel  Luding- 
ton's,  167 

Danbury,  Conn.,  raiding  of,  88 

Dates,  uncertainties  of,  10 

De  Kalb,  Baron,  166 

De  Peyster,  General,  quoted,  105 

Dieskau,  Baron,  27,  28,  29 

Dimon,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  arrests 
traitors,  143 

Dodd's  "East  Haven  Register," 
quoted,  19,  22,  26 

Domesday  Book,  Ludington  men 
tioned  in,  6 

Duer,  William,  55,  56,  57,  75,  134 

Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  divisions 
of,  36,  58;  population  of,  40;  offi 
cers  of  and  their  oaths,  41 ;  revo 
lutionary  passions  in,  49;  Com 
mittee  of  Safety  of,  49;  text  of 
patriotic  compact  in,  52;  militia 
organizations  of,  61,  70;  services 
of  miltia  of,  72;  militia  urged  to 
service  in,  87;  scene  of  border 
warfare  and  raids,  133;  a  danger 
spot,  139;  freeholders'  address  to 
the  Legislature,  153 

East  Haven,  Conn.,  13 

Ellery,  William),  whimsical  account 

of  a  night  at   Colonel   Luding- 

ton's,  166 

Farmer's  List  of  Ancient  Names, 

quoted,  7 
Foote's  company,  2nd  Connecticut 

Regiment,  26 
Fredericksburgh,     town     of,     37; 

much  visited  by  troops,  165 
Frederickstown,  36,  58,  59 

Goodrich,  Col.  Elizur,  26 
Gray's  genealogical  work,  quoted, 
3 


[231] 


INDEX 


Hamilton,  Alexander,  on  burning 
of  Danbury,  91;  voted  for  by 
Colonel  Ludington,  199;  report 
in  behalf  of  Colonel  Ludington, 
200 

Hendrick,  Mohawk  chieftain,  27,  28 

Hoadly's  New  Haven  Colonial 
Records,  quoted,  15 

Holmes,  Col.  John,  Tory  agent, 
147;  Colonel  Ludington's  letter 
about,  148;  captured  by  Colonel 
Ludington,  150 

Hopewell,  ship,  7 

Hopkins,  Col.  Roswell,  letter  to 
Clinton,  171;  experience  with  a 
press  master,  174;  resigns  com 
mission,  176 

Iron  works  at  East  Haven,  Conn., 

13 
Irving,  Washington,  quoted,  169 

Jay,  John,  51,  55,  75,  125,  141,  208 
Johnson,  Major  General  Sir  Will 
iam,  27 

Kane,  Kain,  or  Keane,  John, 

treated  as  a  Tory,  169 
"Kansas  Herald,"  quoted,  222 
Kent,  N.  Y.,  town  of,  37 
Kingston,    N.    Y.,    state    capital, 

menaced    by    the    British,    105; 

burned,  106,  161 

Lake  George,  Battle  of,  27 
Lossing,  Benson  J.,  quoted,  169 
Loyalists,  or  Tories,  47,  73 
Luddington,  Wisconsin,  228 
Ludington,  Louisiana,  228 
Ludington,  Michigan,  228 
Ludingtonville,    N.   Y.,   origin   of, 

38 ;  name  of,  228 
Ludington  family,  3,  4,  5 
Ludington  Hospital,  6 
Ludington,  various  forms  of  the 

name,  5 

Ludington,  Abigail,  22,  35,  209 
Ludington,  Archibald,  45,  204 
jLudington,    Charles     Henry,    MS. 

collections     quoted,      192,     204; 

career  of,  226 
Ludington,  Christian,  7 


Ludington,  Christopher,  8 

Ludington,  Comfort,  Revolution 
ary  soldier,  72,  82,  215 

Ludington,  Elisha,  Revolutionary 
soldier,  71 

Ludington,  Col.  Elisha  H.,  216 

Ludington,  Ellen,  8;  remarriage,  17 

Ludington,  Frederick,  birth,  45; 
career,  217 

Ludington,  George,  218 

Ludington,  Harrison,  Governor,  218 

Ludington,  Henry  1st,  son  of 
William  2nd,  20,  21;  his  chil 
dren—Daniel,  21;  Ezra,  21;  Col 
lins,  21;  William,  21;  Sarah,  21; 
Dinah,  21 ;  Lydia,  21 ;  Nathaniel, 
22;  Moses,  22;  Aaron,  22;  Elisha, 
22;  Sarah,  22;  Thomas,  22 

Ludington,  Col.  Henry,  birth  of, 
22;  at  Branford,  Conn.,  24;  boy 
hood  and  schooling,  25;  enlists  in 
French  and  Indian  War,  25;  at 
Battle  of  Lake  George,  27;  dates 
of  reenlistments,  30;  at  Quebec, 
30;  winter  march  to  Boston,  30; 
commissioned  lieutenant,  31 ; 
captain  in  Beverly  Robinson's 
regiment,  31 ;  recorded  as  "De 
serted,"  31 ;  affidavits  concern 
ing  his  service,  33;  marriage  and 
settlement  in  New  York,  35; 
house  and  mills,  39;  important 
location  of  his  home,  40;  oaths 
as  sub-sheriff,  41;  service  as  sub- 
sheriff,  44;  his  children,  45;  en 
ters  revolutionary  movement,  52; 
under  orders  of  Committee  of 
Safety,  56;  territorial  command 
as  militia  colonel,  59;  work  in 
organizing  militia,  66;  various 
commissions  in  army,  67;  suc 
ceeds  Colonel  Morrison,  68;  for 
mation  of  his  regiment,  70; 
organization,  73;  letter  to  Pro 
vincial  Congress  of  New  York, 
74;  enters  Revolutionary  War, 
77;  at  Battle  of  White  Plains, 
81;  intercourse  with  Washing 
ton,  82;  stationed  at  North 
Castle,  85;  avenges  burning  of 
Danbury,  89;  summoned  to  de 
fend  the  Highlands  of  the  Hud- 


C2323 


INDEX 


son,  91 ;  sent  to  Westchester 
County,  96;  recalled  to  Peekskill, 
98;  difficulty  in  complying  with 
orders,  100;  foils  British  at 
Tarrytown,  101 ;  plans  defense  of 
Highlands,  106;  letter  to  Clin 
ton  about  difficulty  of  raising 
troops,  107;  returns  of  his  regi 
ment,  109;  action  at  Crom  Pond, 
109;  temporary  disbandment  of 
regiment,  110;  secret  service, 
114;  relations  with  "the  spy, 
Harvey  Birch,"  otherwise  Enoch 
Crosby,  115;  instructions  from 
Colonel  Sackett,  115;  engage 
ment  of  Benajah  Tubbs,  116; 
gives  letter  to  Enoch  Crosby, 
132;  services  in  border  warfare, 
134;  road-building  for  forage 
parties,  135;  captures  Nicker- 
son's  party,  138;  in  Westchester 
County,  142;  gives  "character"  to 
a  Tory,  144;  arrests  Elijah 
Taylor,  145;  address  to  Council 
of  Safety,  147;  letter  to  Clinton 
about  Col.  John  Holmes,  148; 
captures  Holmes,  150;  hated  by 
the  Tories,  156;  prize  offered  for 
his  capture,  157;  feud  with  Dr. 
Prosser,  158;  letter  to  Clinton, 
159;  humanity  toward  Tories, 
162;  embarrassed  with  depre 
ciated  currency,  166;  William 
Ellery  and  Francis  Dana  at  his 
house,  166;  letter  to  Clinton 
about  militia,  177;  challenged  to 
fight  a  duel,  179;  retained  on 
duty  in  Westchester  County, 
180;  letter  to  Clinton  with  peti 
tion  of  deserters,  183;  letters  to 
Clinton  on  burdens  of  militia, 
185,  186;  abstract  of  pay-roll, 
187;  affidavit  on  accounts,  188; 
purchase  of  bounty  lands,  189; 
end  of  military  service,  190; 
deputy  sheriff  and  justice  of  the 
peace,  191 ;  text  of  commission  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  194;  service 
in  New  York  Legislature,  198; 
Federalist  and  friend  of  Hamil 
ton,  199;  petition  for  relief  in 
case  of  missing  certificates,  199; 


votes  against  independence  of 
Vermont,  202;  builder  of  im 
proved  road,  202;  retires  from 
colonelcy,  203;  buys  and  sells 
land  at  Frederickstown,  206;  in 
terest  in  church  and  school,  208; 
personal  traits,  208;  death  and 
burial,  208 ;  simple  epitaph,  209 ; 
Blake's  tribute,  209;  text  of  his 
will,  209 

Ludington,  Henry,  Jr.,  45,  204 

Ludington,  Horace,  M.D.,  216 

Ludington,  James,  227 

Ludington,  Lewis,  45,  217,  218;  his 
career,  224;  death,  226 

Ludington,  Gen.  Marshall  I.,  216 

Ludington,  Nelson,  218,  225 

Ludington,  Rebecca,  birth,  45; 
marriage,  45;  service  as  sentry, 
157 

Ludington,  Robert,  3;  Sir  John,  5; 
Thomas,  5;  Stephen,  5;  Eliza 
beth,  5 

Ludington,  Sibyl,  birth,  45;  mar 
riage,  45;  ride  to  summon  troops 
to  avenge  burning  of  Danbury, 
90;  aids  Enoch  Crosby  the  spy, 
132;  service  as  sentry,  157;  her 
children,  219 

Ludington,  Stephen,  Revolutionary 
soldier,  71 

Ludington,  Tertullus,  45,  213 

Ludington,  Thomas,  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  18;  John,  19;  James,  19; 
John,  of  Vermont,  19;  Mary,  19; 
Henry,  19;  Hannah,  19;  Mat 
thew,  20 

Ludington,  William  1st,  at  Charles- 
town  and  Maiden,  8;  deed  of 
land  from  Ralph  Hall,  11;  cred 
itor  of  Henry  Sandyes,  12;  re 
moval  to  East  Haven,  12;  death, 
13;  inventory  of  estate,  15;  chil 
dren,  18 

Ludington,  William  2nd,  19;  Hen 
ry,  20;  Eleanor,  20;  William  3rd, 
20;  Samuel,  20;  Timothy,  21; 
Mercy,  21;  Mary,  21;  Hannah, 
21 ;  John,  21 ;  Jude,  21 ;  Eliphalet, 
21;  Amos,  21;  Elizabeth,  21; 
Dorothy,  21 ;  Dorcas,  21 

Ludington,  William,  son  of  Henry, 


C2333 


INDEX 


21,   22;    Submit,    22;    Mary,   22; 

Henry,   22;   Lydia,   22;   Samuel, 

22;     Rebecca,     22;     Anne,     22; 

Stephen,  22 
Ludington,  William,  Revolutionary 

soldier,  72 

Ludington,  Zalmon,  215 
Ludington,  Zalmon,  Jr.,  216 
Lyman,  General,  28 

Militia,  organization  of,  in  New 
York,  60;  in  Dutchess  and 
Westchester  counties,  61;  pay 
of,  62;  a  sample  muster-roll,  63; 
Colonel  Ludington's  regiment 
formed,  70;  called  out  by  Con 
gress,  72;  commanded  by  George 
Clinton,  78;  ordered  to  High 
lands  of  Hudson,  79;  at  White 
Plains,  81;  defending  the  Hud 
son,  84;  restless  when  waiting, 
92;  difficulties  in  raising  levies, 
95;  reluctance  to  serve,  98;  radi 
cal  reorganization,  111;  abolition 
of  office  of  colonel,  203 
Montgomery,  Fort,  capture  of,  105 
Morrison,  Malcolm,  resigns  com 
mission,  68;  arrested  on  suspi 
cion  of  treason,  138 

New  Haven  Probate  Records, 
quoted,  19 

New  York,  counties  of,  36;  boun 
dary  dispute  with  Connecticut, 
37;  sentiment  at  beginning  of 
Revolution,  47;  patriotic  organ 
izations,  51 ;  action  of  Provincial 
Congress,  54;  vigilance  commit 
tees  against  Tories,  55;  organiza 
tion  of  militia,  60;  changes  of 
government,  70;  militia  called 
out,  72 

Nickerson,  "Josh,"  138 

Oblong,  The,  37 

"Observer,  The  New  York," 

quoted,  219 

Ogden,  Major  Edmund  A.,  219 
Ogden,  Edward,  Edmund,  or 

Henry,  45 
Ogden,  Richard  Ludington,  223 


Patrick,  Lewis  S.,  MS.  collections 
and  researches,  quoted,  8,  13,  19, 
30,  52,  168,  189,  194,  207,  213; 
ancestry  and  genealogical  work, 
219 

Patrick,  Mrs.  M.  L.,  216 

Pawling,  N.  Y.,  town  of,  36 

Pope's  Pioneers  of  Massachusetts, 
quoted,  14 

Prosser,  Dr.,  Tory  conspirator,  126, 
132;  tries  to  capture  Colonel 
Ludington,  157;  their  feud,  158 

Putnam  County,  N.  Y.,  origin  of, 
36 

Putnam,  Gen.  Israel,  order  to  mili 
tia,  93;  abandons  Peekskill,  105; 
orders  to  Colonel  Ludington,  142 

Quaker  Hill,  37,  50 
Quakers,    attitude   of,   in   Revolu 
tion,  50 

Read,  Jacob,  arrest  of,  146 
Records  of  the  Proprietors  of  New 

Haven,  quoted,  17,  18 
Revolution,  The,  beginning  of,  47; 
Henry   Ludington's    services   in, 
77 

Robinson,  Beverly,  31,  45,  169 
Rochambeau,  Count,  guest  at  Col 
onel  Ludington's,  166 
Rose,  John,  18 

Sackett,  Col.  Nathaniel,  commis 
sioned  to  suppress  conspiracies, 
85,  87 ;  secret  service  instructions 
to  Colonel  Ludington,  115 

Savage's  Genealogical  Register, 
quoted,  8 

Scribner,  Col.  Nathaniel,  muster- 
roll,  63 

Secret  service  in  the  Revolution, 
114;  Benajah  Tubbs,  116;  Enoch 
Crosby's  narrative,  117 

Sequestration  of  lands,  150;  com 
missioners  of,  151 

Shrawley,  Ludingtons  of,  3 

"Spy,  The,"  114 

Stirling,  Lord,  45 

Sutherland,  David,  173 

Swartwout,  Jacobus,  General,  67 


£234  3 


INDEX 


Tarrytown,  British  landing  at,  101 
Taylor,  Elijah,  arrest  of,  145 
Tories,     definition    of,    48;     their 
hatred    of    Colonel    Ludington, 
156;  his  humanity  toward  them, 
162;  severe  decree  against  them, 
164 

Tryon,  William,  last  British  gov 
ernor  of  New  York,  31;  raids 
Danbury,  88;  lands  at  Tarry- 
town,  103 

Tubbs,  Benajah,  employed  as  a 
spy,  116 

Van  Bunschoten,  Col.  E.,  letter  to 

Clinton,  180 
Vaughan,  General,  burns  Kingston, 

106 

Washington,  George,  has  Colonel 
Ludington  for  aide  at  White 


Plain,  82;  marches  across  New 
Jersey,  83;  urges  defense  of 
Highlands,  92;  gives  warning  of 
Howe's  designs,  94 ;  guest  at  Col 
onel  Ludington's,  165;  head 
quarters  at  Colonel  Ludington's, 
169 

Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  militia 
in,  76;  Colonel  Ludington's  ser 
vices  in,  96,  142 

Wheaton,  Jehoidah,  affidavit  of,  33 
White  Plains,  Battle  of,  76,  80; 

Colonel  Ludington  at,  81 
Whiting,  Col.  Nathan,  26,  28 
Williams,  Daniel,  letter  to  Clin 
ton,  182 

Williams,  Col.  Ephraim,  28 
Worcester,  Ludington  memorial  at, 

3 

Wyman's  Records  of  Charlestown 
and  Maiden,  14 


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